Ahlstrom-Munksjö invests in a new post-screening system at its Aspa plant, Sweden

With around 4,000 women employed directly or indirectly by Sappi Forests nationwide– through its own personnel in its nurseries, and sub-contracted to its harvesting and silviculture contractors – the company is very aware of the crucial role that rural women play in the agricultural labour force. It is to these women that the United Nations have dedicated the International Day of Rural Women, celebrated on 15 October every year. Fittingly, the theme for this year is “Building rural women’s resilience in the wake of COVID-19” and highlights the fact that the specific struggles that rural women face in their daily lives were further aggravated by the pandemic. World Food Day is another significant UN commemorative day which follows immediately on 16 October and further ties in the crucial role that rural women play in combating top on the list of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 1 ‘No Poverty’ and SDG2 ‘Zero Hunger’).

Q2/2020 compared with Q2/2019 -Net sales decreased by 16.6% to EUR 621.5 million (745.1), mainly due lower delivery volumes -Comparable EBITDA decreased by 11.7% to EUR 74.0 million (83.8), representing 11.9% (11.2) of net sales, supported by variable and fixed costs reduction actions -Operating result of EUR 25.8 million (35.0). Q1-Q2/2020 compared with Q1-Q2/2019: -Net sales decreased by 10.9% to EUR 1,339.6 million (1,502.8), negatively impacted by price, product mix and volumes -Comparable EBITDA increased by 4.4% to EUR 165.7 million (158.8), representing 12.4% (10.6) of net sales, as lower variable costs more than offset lower selling prices and deliveries -Operating result of EUR 99.6 million (52.9), including a capital gain of EUR 32.0 million from the sale of the fine art paper business

According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 26 percent in July compared to July 2019. U.S. purchases of total printing-writing papers decreased 24 percent in July compared to the same month last year. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased five percent when compared to June 2020. Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments decreased 22 percent compared to July 2019 while the inventory level decreased four percent compared to June 2020. UFS imports and exports both decreased compared to June 2019, down 14 percent and 36 percent respectively. U.S. purchases of coated free sheet (CFS) papers in July decreased 14 percent compared to last July while the inventory level decreased four percent compared to June 2020. CFS imports and exports both decreased compared to June 2019, down 22 percent and 29 percent respectively. Coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments decreased 46 percent compared to July 2019 while the inventory level decreased eight percent compared to June 2020. CM imports decreased 67 percent while exports increased 39 percent in June 2020. U.S. purchases of uncoated mechanical (UM) papers in July decreased 27 percent compared to last July while the inventory level decreased 19 percent compared to June 2020. UM imports and exports both decreased compared to June 2019, down 48 percent and 59 percent respectively.