Lecta to Increase 2-side CWF and UWF prices by 8%

On February 11, Paper Excellence first publicly raised serious concerns about poor rail service provided by CN Rail. Full CN rail service is critical to moving products from Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp mill to global markets. While rail service has not yet improved, Paper Excellence has appreciated the recent advocacy the Saskatchewan government has undertaken with the federal government and the Minister of Transport, Minister Alghabra. Specifically, Minister Fred Bradshaw has written a strong letter to Minister Alghabra that raises the rail challenges we, and many other industries, continue to face, and we would like to thank the Minister for doing that. Saskatchewan’s economy relies significantly on rail companies to transport goods to market, and we look forward to the government’s continued support in rectifying, as soon as possible, the ongoing lack of CN rail service that continues to negatively impact our business operations.

Sofidel announced the formal opening of its second greenfield plant in the United States, signaling a significant expansion by the company in response to consumer demand. The 1.8 million-square-foot production plant is fully operational in Inola, Okla., leveraging one of the United States’ most recently built paper manufacturing facilities, equipped with state-of-the art technology. The $360 million technologically and environmentally advanced plant is Sofidel’s second greenfield investment in the U.S.. An integrated facility, with its paper mill that transforms pulp into paper and the converting plant that makes the finished product, it can turn out 120,000 tons of tissue annually.

RISI reports that Lecta and Burgo are separately raising prices by 6% to 7% on CWF and UWF grades effective with deliveries from July 2018 onward.