The PaperIndex Times News Feeds

Pulp Supply in Crisis – Paper Supply Reduced

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:07:03 CST

Sometimes, fear is an appropriate response. Pulp buyers should be in fear right now. Pulp supply in the U.S. south has been slowed dramatically due to wet weather conditions. Now, we hear that eastern Canada also has weather problems (with warmer and wetter weather than usual) that will significant

Brigl & Bergmeister appoints new Managing Director

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:51:59 CST

Austrian-based specialist label papers and flexible packaging papers producer Brigl & Bergmeister has announced the appointment of Michael Sablatnig as its new Managing Director. Sablatnig has 25 years extensive industry experience, having previously held the position of Chief Commercial Officer

New on Nip Impressions: A bad example

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:45:34 CST

"Some senior executives in our industry [took] big bonuses while their company prepared to file for bankruptcy. Sound familiar?...We can do little, if anything, about bad apples at the top, but we can certainly help clear up communications for everyone who works for us." What CAN you do? Read o

Black Liquor Scorecard: 21 Companies Earned $6.5 Billion in 2009

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:55:12 CST

The $6.5 billion in controversial black-liquor credits earned in 2009 by 21 publicly traded pulp and paper companies was far more than their total profit for the year. Exclusive analysis lists the black-liquor credits each company received from the U.S. government and its 2009 net income.

APP Disappointed in Preliminary Findings of Subsidy Cases, But Remains Confident of Its Position

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:39:36 CST

(USA/China/Indonesia) "Department of Commerce Preliminary Ruling Just One Step in Long Process": APP

U.S. Department of Commerce Rules Against Chinese and Indonesian Coated Producers

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:23:17 CST

Appleton Coated, NewPage, Sappi, and the United Steelworkers (USW) received the good news from the commerce department late yesterday. The full press release is helpful and available here at, News Release - 030210 - Trade Case FINAL . In summary…

The AbitibiBowater vs Newfoundland Saga

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:40:53 CST

Danny Williams, the premier of Newfoundland practically ran AbitibiBowater out of the province. The "Chavez of the North” promised union members and communities that the AbitibiBowater mills would never close. At the same time he was making those promises he was openly hostile to the company. This

International Paper re-launches PRO-DESIGN™

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:35:22 CST

Brussels, Belgium, - 2 March, 2010 - International Paper, the world's largest paper and packaging company, has re-launched its PRO-DESIGN™ colour laser paper range, encompassing an increased product range offering, with new weights also being added. A new 300gsm grade will become available from

New on PaperMoney: Maybe the iPad isn't IT

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:53:57 CST

"'IT', of course, being the be all and end all to electronic publication, wiping out pub papers in one final death knell." Get insightful commentary, along with facts and figures on the global pulp and paper industry at: http://www.globalpapermoney.org/

First PEFC Certificate Awarded for the Sustainable Management Practices Upheld within Russian Forests

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:20:32 CST

Company gets PEFC Certified to Offer Customers Assurance that Wood is from Legal & Sustainable forest in Russia ST.PETERSBURG (2 MARCH 2010) - The first ever PEFC sustainable forest management certificate in Russia has been issued to Metsäliitto Podporozhye, PEFC announced today. The certificate

New on Nip Impressions: The problem with age

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:16:29 CST

Jim's column this week begins: "I think a dismal view of the status and prospects for the world wide pulp and paper industry is an age related phenomenon." Find out why at http://www.nipimpressions.com Nip Impressions: Pulp and Paper Insight; Never Boring

Awash in Natural Gas, Part one

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:11:48 CST

The spectacular new technology that enables energy producers to extract natural gas from shale deposits is a revolutionary development. It is the energy miracle that the U.S. needed.

A Price Increase on Coated Paper? What is Abitibi Smoking?

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:00:38 CST

AbitibiBowater stunned its North American customers today by announcing a huge price increase for coated paper - a move that is already DOA, thanks to Abitibi's competitors.

White Birch: Weaker Than I Realized

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:23:21 CST

Exactly 30 days ago, I chided The New York Times for implying that White Birch Paper was on the verge of bankruptcy. White Birch, North America's second largest newsprint manufacturer, filed for bankruptcy protection in both Canada and the United States today.

No Import Duty Relief to Indian Paper Industry; Delhi Court Refuses to Impose Safeguard Duty on Coated Paper

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:11:59 CST

(India--Feb 23, 2010-(PTI)- Indian paper industry today failed to get any relief from the Delhi High Court over the government's decision of not imposing safeguard duty on imports of coated paper and paper board. A division bench Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul declined

PEFC at Paperworld

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:28:08 CST

It is a relaxed and somewhat pleased Ben Gunneberg I find greeting me at the Paperworld 2010 exhibition in a wintry and snowbound Frankfurt. PEFC's Director General has just arrived hot foot from his base in Geneva, and clearly has a message to relay to Paperworld visitors. "Currently PEFC remain

Neucel Specialty Cellulose CEO Robert Taylor to Present Keynote Address at 23rd Annual PIRM Conference

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:39:12 CST

(USA) Robert (Bob) Taylor, CEO of Neucel Specialty Cellulose, has been announced as the Keynote Speaker for the 23rd Annual Process Industry Reliability and Maintenance (PIRM) Conference, to be held May 2 - 5 in Atlanta, GA, USA. PIRM is co-sponsored by TAPPI...

Two Coated Machines Back In Operation

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:17:25 CST

It is now clear that NewPage is re-starting two coated machines that had been idled due to a lack of orders. This development is important for at least two reasons. First, it confirms that coated backlogs have improved significantly. Second, it delays coated pricing improvement.

Obama Joins in on the Black Liquor Two-Step

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:09:08 CST

The Obama Administration announced today that it wants to close the non-existent "Son of Black Liquor" loophole to help "pay" for new healthcare legislation. Then Democrats won a key vote on a jobs bill that would be paid for partly with the "savings" from closing the same mythical loophole.

Pulp and Paper Manufacturers Worldwide Consumed 75 Million Tons of Woody Biomass for Energy in 2009: WRI

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:17:31 CST

(USA) The global pulp and paper industry has substantially increased its use of woody biomass for energy the past few years, which has consequently reduced dependence on fossil fuels, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Since 2006, energy generated from biomass has gone up over 50%...

Voith Paper Receives 'Sustainable Development Supplier Award 2009' from Cascades

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:43:19 CST

(Germany) Voith Receives 'Sustainable Development Supplier Award 2009' from Cascades...

Mohawk Fine Papers Acquires LabPrints

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:06:33 CST

(USA) Mohawk Fine Papers has announced the acquisition of LabPrints, a leader in workflow integration for professional photographers and photo labs...

PMMI and NPTA Alliance Launch Distripak Pavilion at PACK EXPO International

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:02:52 CST

Arlington, Va., USA;-Feb 22, 2010-- The DistriPak Pavilion will make its PACK EXPO International debut this fall (McCormick Place, Chicago; Oct. 31-Nov. 3), according to PACK EXPO organizer and producer PMMI. The pavilion is sponsored by NPTA Alliance (formerly the National Paper Trade Association)

US Die-Cut Paper and Paperboard Office Supplies Market to Cross $4.4 Billion by 2015: Global Industry Analysts

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:55:35 CST

(USA) The US die-cut paper and paperboard office supplies industry consists of more than 295 enterprises spread across the US. Government and public offices such as banks, utilities, and institutions that serve a wider range of customers are obliged...

Willis Potts Receives TAPPI’s 2010 Herman Joachim Distinguished Service Award

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:52:30 CST

(USA) Willis J. Potts Jr. will receive the 2010 TAPPI Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award, established in 1994. It recognizes an individual for voluntary leadership and service that has significantly and demonstrably contributed to the advancement of TAPPI.

NewPage in the News

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:59:29 CST

We review the NewPage announcement on coated downtime, the company's claim that its customers benefited from the black liquor subsidy, and update the trade action against imports from China.

New on Nip Impressions: Get Real

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:15:22 CST

On the prospect of saving old mills, Jim writes: "It is unethical, if not immoral, to attempt to save a mill making grades in rapid decline, especially if that mill is far off the beaten path and has obsolete equipment." Agree? Disagree? Let Jim know...http://www.nipimpressions.com/

High Waste Paper Prices, China, and Trade Issues, Part two

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:13:05 CST

How do you make paper without fiber? It's hard to do. China does not have large softwood fiber forests necessary to produce newsprint and other groundwood grades. Therefore, its newsprint industry is almost entirely dependent on domestic waste paper recovery and waste paper imports. In spite of

Both Sides in Asian-Paper Debate Are Lobbying U.S. Printers

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:23:13 CST

U.S. printers are hearing environmentally themed messages from both sides on the question of whether to buy Asian paper. Ten environmental groups issued a letter to printers and paper buyers today asking them not to buy paper from Eagle Ridge Paper, a division of Asia Pulp and Paper.

Customer Service on PaperMoney

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:31:33 CST

In this issue's editorial, Don Meadows recounts a recent bout with an online retailer and takes a broad view of customer service and order fulfillment. Editorial content is just part of what PaperMoney delivers. Check it all out today at http://www.globalpapermoney.org/

News Media and Congress Are Confused About Black Liquor Subsidies

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:00:09 CST

With so much confusion in the mainstream news media and Congress about black-liquor subsidies for U.S. pulp mills, it's time to set the record straight. Many mis-statements emanated from Washington in the past week regarding how proposed jobs legislation would deal with black liquor. Examples:

Denmaur receives NAPM endorsement for Amadeus 50% recycled range

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:02:22 CST

Denmaur Independent Papers, one of the UK's leading independent paper merchant groups, is delighted to announce that it has received the NAPM (National Association of Paper Merchant's) Recycled Paper Mark endorsement for its Amadeus 50% Recycled range - the double coated silk and gloss paper range

Paper and Other Absolute Truths

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:53:12 CST

We have two new paper updates available: How Weak Are Coated Prices?, and The Thunder Bay Re-Start is Not Additional Capacity for AbitibiBowater. Just scroll down on the home page to reports dated Feb 11.

New on Nip Impressions: Pulp and paper provide clues to jobless recovery

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:09:14 CST

Jim's take on one reason businesses aren't hiring: "The balance of the relationship between employer and employee has moved radically in favor of the employee in the last forty years. At the same time, improving technology has given employers options which do not represent a potential lawsuit."

Heroic Senators Rush to Close Non-Existent 'Son of Black Liquor' Loophole

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:07:37 CST

Senate Democrats started circulating a proposed jobs bill Tuesday that would be paid for partly by closing the "Son of Black Liquor" tax loophole. But a government official confirmed that the supposed loophole for U.S. pulp and paper companies doesn't even exist.

Paper and Other Absolute Truths » Blog Archive » High Waste Paper Prices, China, and Trade Issues, Part one

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:12:45 CST

Supply and demand for waste paper grades was more-or-less in balance in the ‘90s. Demand was sufficient to consume all the waste paper that was being recovered. The situation changed radically on the ‘00s, however.

Nip Impressions: We get letters

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:14:24 CST

Check out the feedback from last week's Nip Impressions in this week's issue. Further proof that Paperitalo products are Publications People Read (tm). This week Jim takes up the energy research as career move. Check it out today.

Three Newsprint Machines Back in Operation

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:56:46 CST

The newsprint industry needed to remove another million tonnes or so of capacity this year (in addition to the indefinitely idled tonnes) to bring supply and demand in balance and thus stimulate a sustained price advance. Instead of removing capacity, 600,000 tonnes (annualized) have re-started ove

Ford Joins Burrows Paper Corporation

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:13:48 CST

(USA) Burrows Paper Corporation has announced the expansion of its sales department and concurrently, the hiring of Steven E. Ford as Food Service Distribution Sales Manager...

Dead Tree Edition: International Paper Puts $2 Billion on Its Black Liquor Tab

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:55:30 CST

Studying the fine print of tax legislation helped IP earn more than $2 billion last year in black liquor credits from the federal government. It announced today that it is getting $516 million in black liquor credits for the 4th Quarter of 2009 and yet lost $101 million during the quarter.