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The PM40 closed Friday, 17 October 2025, at 5205.

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 17 October 2025 down 12.1% from the 18 October 2024 level.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Rayonier Advanced Materials and Kimberly-Clark.

The Trump Administration's executive orders cut across dozens of industries. This searchable tool breaks down the orders and their impact.

Ladies and gentlemen, the first class of inductees to the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame in Appleton, Wisconsin was inducted more than two decades ago in 1995, and today, more than 150 papermaking innovators and legends have been enshrined. This month, we profile Matti Kankaanpää, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.

When purchasing large capital equipment, do you think buyers lie to you to get a better price?

Project supports DS Smith's £50 million investment aimed at boosting efficiency, reliability and sustainability.

Ecowipes, a manufacturer of nonwoven wipes, successfully commissions the WLM 2 line supplied by Voith.

Founded in 1924, Clyde Industries is recognized for its highly engineered boiler efficiency and cleaning system technologies that improve performance, reduce operational costs, and support customer sustainability initiatives in critical industrial markets, including energy, pulp and paper, and general industry.

Maflex presents HUB - Help, Updates & Booklets - the digital platform designed for those who work every day with Maflex equipment. A single environment to access everything you need: support, manuals, original spare parts, 3D views, technical drawings, and machine data.

Start-up is scheduled for the Q4 2026.

Valmet will deliver a new evaporation line to Altri Biotek mill in Portugal. This delivery is part of Altri's EUR 75 million project to convert the Biotek mill to produce dissolving pulp for textile industry. The new evaporation line significantly improves the mill's energy and water efficiency, meeting the needs of Altri's mill expansion.

Trump imposes additional 10% tariff on lumber, 25% on wood products.

Interfor Corporation plans to cut lumber production by approximately 250 million board feet in the fourth quarter of 2025, a 26% decrease from the 936 million board feet produced in the second quarter. The new figure increases the company's previously announced plan from which targeted a reduction of approximately 145 million board feet between September and December, representing a 12% decrease from normal operating levels.

Demand for packaging has not become worse, nor has it become better, Mondi CEO Andrew King told analysts, adding that weakness in fine paper has persisted, with competitors fighting for share in a shrinking market.

Nippon Dynawave Packaging says it is working to appeal a canceled U.S. Department of Energy grant worth more than $46 million to help the Longview plant switch to an emerging filtration technology to reduce the energy used in its production process.

The proposed regional distribution center, if approved by company officials, will break ground in the first quarter of 2026 and will create 65 additional full-time jobs.

Metsä Board has finalized a Euro 60 million modernisation project at its Simpele folding boxboard mill, boosting fossil-free energy usage from 89% to 98% and launching a higher-performance version of its MetsäBoard Classic FBB product. The board machine is now fully operational and customer deliveries of the upgraded packaging board have begun.

The Ontario government is allocating $16.8 million to sustain operations at the Kapuskasing Paper Mill, securing nearly 300 mill jobs and supporting 2,500 direct and indirect forestry positions across northeastern Ontario. The provincial investment follows discussions with Kap Paper and the federal government, which has committed an additional $12 million, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

$92.5 million investment will create 116 new jobs.

UPM Adhesive Materials, formerly known as UPM Raflatac, plans to open a new slitting and distribution terminal near Hanoi, Northern Vietnam, to support its growth in Southeast Asia. The new facility will ensure agile service for customers in the Northern Vietnam area.

Cascades Inc. announces that it has reached an agreement to sell its Flexible Packaging plant activities to Five Star Holding ("Five Star") based in Houston, Texas. The $31 million transaction is effective immediately. Cascades' will retain ownership of the site real estate.

Pixelle is putting all $5.5 million it made from the sale into an account for local unions and workers who lost their jobs. $1 million will be distributed right away, with the rest coming after certain conditions are met.

ProAmpac, a global leader in flexible packaging and material science, has acquired the bag converting operations of International Paper ("IP"), a global leader in sustainable packaging. The acquisition expands ProAmpac's converting capabilities, further advancing the company's Fiberization of Packaging® strategy and enhancing its ability to deliver customized bag solutions for the grocery, convenience store, and quick-service restaurant markets.

The combined company will operate under a new name, to be announced prior to closing.

Södra has reached an agreement to divest its forest holdings in the Baltics to Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group (the largest IKEA retailer).

On 27 August 2025, Spinnova Plc announced that it had signed binding agreements to acquire all shares of Woodspin Oy and Suzano Finland Oy from Suzano S.A. and take full ownership of the businesses. The transaction was subject to certain customary closing conditions which have now been fulfilled. The transaction was completed on 3 October 2025.

Veritiv Operating Company, a leader in specialty packaging distribution, facility solutions and print products and solutions, announced that it has acquired Packaging Solutions which supplies custom packaging products and services throughout Southern California.

Michael Casamento to return home to Australia to be closer to his family on a full-time basis; Will leave the Company as a result, remaining in an advisory role until June 30, 2026 to support transition.

Essity has announced the establishment of its new Middle East regional headquarters for its Health & Me

This decision impacts approximately 130 employees at the cellulose mill, and 22 employees at the Technology and Innovation Center. It is our expectation that most positions at the mill and technology center will be eliminated by early December.

The location for the new investment, intended to be within one of Sofidel's existing facilities, has not yet been finalized. The company is currently engaging with various public authorities to finalize the project.

Mativ will close its Wilson facility by the end of 2025, affecting 50 employees according to a WARN notice. The first job separations are set to begin Dec. 1.

The planned actions will affect the entire organisation and result in 200 redundancies.

At this time, Wayne County officials say it appears to be accidental.

Firefighters in Sussex were on the scene of a fire at the Irving sawmill on the edge of town on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 8.

GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. welcomes the recent announcement of the restart of operations at Kap Paper Inc. This development highlights the strong collaboration between the federal and provincial governments and their shared commitment to supporting Northern Ontario communities and Canada's broader forestry sector.

Interfor is extending the temporary curtailment of its Grand Forks division indefinitely due to "ongoing weak market conditions."

Paper and packaging conglomerate Norske Skog is implementing efficiency measures that will result in the reduction of up to 200 full-time positions between 2025 and 2027. The workforce reduction will be carried out through natural attrition and a hiring freeze.

The last day of operations at the plant is expected to be Dec. 31.

The closure will lead to a reduction of 93 positions."