Kruger Announces Newsprint Price Increase

As part of sustainable logistics concepts and in order to increase supply chain reliability for an important raw material, pulp, Koehler is making greater use of rail transportation. “We have expanded the existing rail connection, which was too small, added manual underground switches to it, and also purchased a modern shunting robot. This will enable employees to handle shunting work at the plant independently and flexibly and to process four times as much incoming tonnage,” explained Andreas Riedlinger, logistics team leader at Koehler. Total investments amounted to EUR 1 million. Since the start of the year, three to four weekly block trains have re-placed deliveries by truck, which amounted to as many as 15 per day.

According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments increased 14 percent in August compared to August 2020. U.S. purchases of total printing-writing papers increased 12 percent in August compared to the same month last year. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased three percent when compared to July 2021. U.S. purchases of uncoated free sheet (UFS) papers in August increased 12 percent compared to last August while the inventory level decreased three percent compared to July 2021. UFS imports and exports both increased compared to July 2020, up 13 percent and 17 percent respectively. Coated free sheet (CFS) paper shipments increased 20 percent compared to August 2020 while the inventory level decreased three percent compared to July 2021. CFS imports and exports both increased compared to July 2020, up 46 percent and six percent respectively. U.S. purchases of coated mechanical (CM) papers in August decreased five percent compared to last August while the inventory level decreased three percent compared to July 2021. CM imports and exports both increased compared to July 2020, up 27 percent and 15 percent respectively. Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments increased 14 percent compared to August 2020 while the inventory level decreased six percent compared to July 2021. UM imports and exports both increased compared to July 2020, up 33 percent and 33 percent respectively.

Third Quarter Highlights: *Net income of $2 million, or $0.11 per diluted share *Reduced net debt by $7 million in the quarter and $32 million for the first nine months of 2021 *Closed Neenah, Wisconsin tissue facility *Completed planned major maintenance at Cypress Bend, Arkansas facility *Tissue demand recovery and paperboard price increases