Paper & Pulp Mills
Smurfit Westrock confirms closure of SSK paper mill in Birmingham, UK Following a consultation that began April 30 and found no viable alternatives, Smurfit Westrock will close its SSK recycled containerboard mill on July 27, cutting about 200,000 tonnes of annual fluting and liner capacity and affecting 117 employees; the company cited sustained challenging market conditions and plans to redistribute output across its European network. Source: PaperAge
Arbex launches as new global tissue and hygiene company from Suzano–Kimberly-Clark venture Update: Former Kimberly-Clark executive Ehab Abou-Oaf has been named Arbex CEO and ex-Suzano chief Walter Schalka chairs the board, with the venture's plants spread across 14 countries. Source: Papnews
Co-generation at Mills
Renova inaugurates EUR 11 million biomass energy plant at Torres Novas tissue mill Portuguese tissue maker Renova has started up its "Descarbonizar@Renova" project at Factory 2, pairing a biomass energy facility with the first electric paper-drying unit and residual heat recovery; the plant replaces most natural gas use for thermal energy and has helped cut Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions 50.6% versus 2020, avoiding roughly 54,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. EUR 5.8 million of the investment came from the EU Recovery and Resilience Plan. Source: PaperAge
Steam system rebuild lifts output 18%, cuts steam use 15% at Cartiera San Martino S.B.R. Solutions completed a modernization of the 1990-era steam and condensate system on the Italian boardmaker's PM2, integrating new high-pressure drying cylinders; the project raised production capacity 18% while reducing steam consumption by more than 15%. Source: Papnews
Wood Pellets
US wood pellet exports at 879,591 metric tons in May New USDA trade data show US wood pellet exports of 879,590.7 metric tons for May 2026, down 6% from April but up 3% from May 2025. Source: Biomass Magazine