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The PM40 closed Friday, 1 October 2021, at 4283.

Get the latest PM40 updates by listening to the weekly Nips show and the PM40 Daily Show on Pulp & Paper Radio International.

The PM40 closed 1 October 2021 up 42.1% from the 2 October 2020 level.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Amcor and International Paper.

Reported insider trading since the last issue of PaperMoney.

Recently, in a discussion with one of our clients, we were talking about predictable consumption. The big two paper and paperboard grades--tissue and containerboard--were the front and center subjects. I was pointing out that since World War II, tissue consumption has been very predictable in 1st world countries at about 35 pounds per capita per year. Our client asked, "What about containerboard?"

Andritz has successfully started up a stock preparation system supplied to Vinda Personal Care (Guangdong) Co., Ltd., as part of its tissue production at the mill in Yangjiang, Guangdong, China. With this new line, there are now more than 20 stock preparation systems from Andritz operating in different mills belonging to the Vinda Group.

International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from Volga Pulp and Paper Mill in Balakhna, Nizhnij Novgorod Region, Russia, to supply a new OCC line as well as to convert its PM 6, a newsprint paper machine, to a packaging paper machine. Start-up is scheduled for the spring of 2023.

Andritz has received a repeat order from Starwood Orman Urunleri Sanayi A.S. to supply the third complete fiber preparation system for its MDF production lines in İnegöl, Turkey. Start-up is scheduled for the end of 2022.

Kemira has opened its new APAC R&D center in Pujiang Town, Shanghai, China, to meet rapidly growing market demand and accelerate efforts to develop renewable, biodegradable and recycleable products in the Asian region.

The new systems will have a total production capacity of 2.5 million tons per year and are scheduled to start up in 2022 and 2023.

Toscotec successfully started up a TT SYD Steel Yankee Dryer at Cartiera Ponte d'Oro Ansalcarta in Villa Basilica, Italy. The new Yankee replaced an existing cast iron dryer installed on PM1 in 1993 by Officine Meccaniche Toschi, which was renamed Toscotec in 2003.

Valmet will supply a coated board making line and a bleached chemi thermo mechanical pulp (BCTMP) production line with automation solutions, as well as spare parts and consumables packages to one of its customer in Asia. The board making line with high productivity will produce very high-quality folding coated board grades.

Valmet will supply a high-capacity OptiWin Pro winder to Norske Skog's Golbey mill in France. The main target of Norske Skog Golbey is to have one winder to handle the 550,000-tonne capacity of the converted high-speed and high-capacity paper machine PM 1, following the paper machine conversion from production of newsprint to production of recycled containerboard.

Continuing its focus on global sustainability leadership and aligned with its 'from Plastic to Purpose' campaign, Ahlstrom-Munksjö has released a pioneering mono-material oxygen barrier technology made of 100% cellulose fibers.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö continues to focus on the growth segment of electrification, enhancing its latest product offering, totally dedicated to filtration media solutions for electric vehicles. The new solutions complement the products launched in May which included filtration solutions for cabin air, transmission and cooling systems.

Walk into the absorbent hygiene section of your local pharmacy or grocery store and you'll see our Engineered Absorbent Materials (EAM) airlaid products everywhere.

Mercer International Inc. is proud to announce that three team members between our Canadian and Corporate operations have received awards for the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) 4th Annual Awards.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, and Taurus Packaging have developed a fit-for-purpose reusable shopping bag that can carry groceries and meet the needs of the demanding Southern African retail marketplace. Mondi's Advantage Kraft Plus with wet strength makes this paper bag a great alternative in a market where plastic bags have traditionally been used.

A challenge that Mercer has seen over the years is one of full-cycle utilization: from tree to truck, how can we get the most out of our natural resources to ensure that we are using them sustainably and producing as little waste as possible? At Mercer Celgar, this is a challenge that Charlene Strelaeff takes to heart.

With our latest development we have managed to create climate-smart compounds that performs on a similar or even higher level in some cases, than traditional engineering plastics like ABS, PPGF and HIPS.

This autumn, UPM will recruit some 70 new students for several apprenticeship programmes in Finland. The aim of these business-specific apprenticeship programmes is to increase the number of experts with a vocational degree for production and maintenance at UPM's mills throughout Finland.

Chatham Asset Management, LLC ("Chatham"), a private investment firm which manages funds that beneficially own approximately 14.9% of the outstanding common stock and which is the largest bondholder of R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company ("RRD" or the "Company") (NYSE: RRD), sent a letter to RRD's Board of Directors (the "Board") following the Board's inaction and lack of engagement with Chatham despite the continued destruction of stockholder value at RRD.

The Offering is part of the financing for, and is conditioned upon the consummation of, the proposed acquisition of Domtar and its subsidiaries by Karta Halten.

Glatfelter Corporation announced that effective immediately, it will increase prices for all Composite Fibers products by 12%, or as customer contracts permit.

Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l. announces that due to the rapidly escalating cost of European energy it will raise prices by €50 (£50) / tonne on all recycled paperboard grades sold in the Company's EMEA regions, effective for all shipments made on or after the 4th October 2021.

Weyerhaeuser Company announced that its board of directors declared an interim supplemental dividend of $0.50 per share on the common stock of the company, payable in cash on October 19, 2021, to holders of record of such common stock as of the close of business on October 5, 2021.

Consumers do not just buy the content of a product, they buy its packaging as well. Today, their increased awareness of the environmental impact of packaging also significantly influences purchase decisions. Henkel has anticipated this development: Its experts are developing packaging adhesives which support the design of sustainable packaging involving less waste and improved recyclability.

Pregis and Henkel recently joined forces to advance the development of sustainable protective packaging solutions that meet environmental goals and address future packaging requirements.

SCA and St1 have entered a joint venture to produce and sell liquid biofuels. SCA will supply tall oil to the joint venture and will invest approximately SEK 0.6 billion in the company.

A long-term collaboration between Finnish startup The Paper Lid Company and Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, has led to the development of a 100% recyclable paperboard lid for use with takeaway cups.

A Niagara Falls paper mill subject to multiple complaints of foul odors was punished Thursday with a $375,000 fine and state-mandated plant improvements that will cost the plant's owners an estimated $2 million.

The motion was filed before Judge Sherri A. Lydon in federal court in the District of South Carolina, Rock Hill Division, and if granted, residents will ask the Court to require New Indy to immediately take all measures necessary to eliminate its dangerous air emissions and comply with the Clean Air Act and EPA's outstanding order.

Georgia-Pacific announced that it is modernizing one of its premier sawmills in Texas. Pineland Lumber Complex, located in Pineland, Texas, will undergo $120 million in additions and improvements in an overall modernization effort that will also increase the mills' overall production.

Klabin started up of the first paper machine (MP27) of the Puma II Project located in Ortigueira, Paraná, Brazil , which is its largest investment to date. With production capacity of 450,000 tons, MP27 launches production of Eukaliner, the world's first kraftliner paper made 100% from eucalyptus fiber.

UPM has permanently closed paper production at its Shotton newsprint mill site in North Wales, United Kingdom. The site and all related assets will now be transferred to Eren Paper Ltd, a subsidiary of Modern Karton Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.Ş., the containerboard and corrugated packaging business of the Turkish industrial conglomerate Eren Holding ("Eren"), thereby closing the transaction announced in May 2021. Eren will now start working on the conversion of the site.

Cascades Inc. announces that the sale of its equity interest in Reno de Medici S.p.A. is now expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2021, versus previous expectations that it would close in the third quarter.

Elif employs approximately 1,500 people in its two manufacturing locations in Istanbul, Turkey and Cairo, Egypt.

The estimated completion of the transaction would be at the end of 2021 or at the beginning of 2022.

UFP Industries announced that UFP Distribution, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of UFP Construction, LLC, acquired the operating assets of Shelter Products, Inc., in Haleyville, Alabama, for $6.5 million.

UPM has permanently closed paper production at its Shotton newsprint mill site in North Wales, United Kingdom. The site and all related assets will now be transferred to Eren Paper Ltd, a subsidiary of Modern Karton Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.Ş., the containerboard and corrugated packaging business of the Turkish industrial conglomerate Eren Holding ("Eren"), thereby closing the transaction announced in May 2021. Eren will now start working on the conversion of the site.

Verso Corp. announced it would continue considering Atlas Holding's offer to purchase the company if Atlas increased its offer to more than $20 per share.

Essity is presenting a breakthrough in sustainable tissue production and is beginning production based on pulp from wheat straw. The plant in Mannheim, Germany, is the first of its kind in Europe, and the first on a large-scale tissue production in the world.

International Paper Company announced the completion of its previously announced separation and spin-off of its global printing papers business, now operating as Sylvamo Corporation.

Brazilian pulpmaker Klabin SA said on Wednesday that the chairman of its board of directors, Armando Klabin, died at the age of 89, in Rio de Janeiro.

A Manitoba farmer fears the impending closure of a flax straw-processing facility near Carman may mean a decline in provincial flax acres.

The historically strong box demand has led to a surge in OCC demand, which is why OCC prices are near historic highs.

Sustainable packaging leader DS Smith announced today it has embedded its pioneering Circular Design Metrics across all its packaging sites to support the transition to a circular economy and help customers achieve their ESG goals, furthering its commitment to meeting customer needs as the corporate world embraces ESG and works to set and meet targets that reduce environmental impacts.

As part of its commitment to its ambitious 2030 Sustainability strategy, Huhtamaki submitted a series of Climate Change mitigation targets in 2020. These have now been approved and validated by the global recognized Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

As part of its purpose to deliver better care for a better world, Kimberly-Clark's 2030 sustainability goals include a commitment to reducing its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2015 base year.

Overall, the project is expected to cost $200 million. Port Hawkesbury Paper employs upwards of 1,000 people - directly and indirectly - in northeastern Nova Scotia.

UPM's Biofore Base research centres in Lappeenranta, Finland and Changshu, China accelerate the development of new bio-based products and their launch to markets. A third research centre is under construction in Leuna, Germany in connection with the upcoming biochemicals refinery. The centres unite UPM's various technologies and globally accumulated experience and expertise in the new and existing businesses.

Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) appeared before the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) this week to advocate for the Domtar employees and more broadly, the southwest Ohio community.

Most recently, Michelle served as the Global Sustainability Leader at The Chemours Company, one of the world's leading producers of titanium dioxide and has previously held roles within the Titanium Technologies business segment and the corporate remediation function.

Nine Dragons Paper has revealed that it will have 3 million tonnes of wood pulp production capacity by 2023.

Rengo Co., Ltd. has opened Yodogawa Logistics Center in Fukushima-ku, Osaka-shi, Japan. Yodogawa Logistics Center is the Rengo Group's largest logistics center in the Kansai region, Japan, and is capable of storing approximately 20,000 tons of containerboard.

A Turkish company plans to convert the Shotton paper mill in north Wales from newsprint to containerboard in an attempt to boost UK-based paper recycling.