Resolute Forest Products Announces Newsprint Price Increase

Sappi has entered into a Water Stewardship agreement with WWF-SA (World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa), aimed at improving the water security in the uMkhomazi catchment area. With its significant manufacturing and forestry footprint in this catchment area, which forms part of the Southern Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area in KwaZulu-Natal, it makes sense for Sappi to focus its collaborative efforts here, where its Saiccor Mill and 42,000 ha of its forestry land is situated. The catchment also serves commercial farmers, subsistence farmers and domestic users in dispersed settlements across the area, but with it being underdeveloped, faces extensive development changes soon. To meet the future needs of all users, sufficient water at an acceptable level of assurance and quality must be secured. Sappi believes that this can only be achieved through multi-stakeholder collaboration across the landscape. To help coordinate and facilitate the approach, Sappi has launched a two-year project with WWF to engage local communities, civil organisations, leadership and regulatory authorities in dialogue and cooperation focused on water stewardship. This collaborative approach is an extension of an innovative structure, known as the Integrated Community Forum (ICF), which Sappi introduced and uses to engage with local adjacent communities.

It is the busiest time of the year, when our Nordic forests are being regenerated by planting or seeding. This year, Stora Enso will plant a total of more than 48 million tree seedlings in Finland, Sweden, Russia and Estonia. In northern forests, the planting season is typically about 150 days long, which means that, during this year’s planting season, about 320 000 seedlings are planted every day. Using cultivated plants and seeds, forests can grow as much as 20% faster than they would naturally. This means added value for forest owners and Stora Enso, as well as for nature and the climate. In 2020, Stora Enso invested 68 million euros in forest growth. In 2021, Stora Enso and Tornator are, together, planting 14 million seedlings in Finland. In Sweden, where Stora Enso owns approximately 1.4 million hectares of forest and where seedlings are delivered from Stora Enso's own nurseries, the company is planting 33 million seedlings. Russia follows, with approximately 850 000 plants in Carelia and 250 000 in Novgorod. In Estonia, Stora Enso is planting around 31 000 seedlings in private forests.

Total European shipments of graphic papers in June 2020 were down 26.6% vs. June 2019 and are down 18.8% year-to-date. Total European shipments of newsprint in June 2020 were down 19.4% vs. June 2019 and are down 15.4% year-to-date. Total European shipments of sc-magazine in June 2020 were down 21.1% vs. June 2019 and are down 19.3% year-to-date. Total European shipments of coated mechanical reels in June 2020 were down 39.3% vs. June 2019 and are down 25.8% year-to-date. Total European shipments of uncoated mechanical (improved & others) in June 2020 were down 10.3% vs. June 2019 and are down 8.0% year-to-date. Total European shipments of coated woodfree in June 2020 were down 36.6% vs. June 2019 and are down 24.5% year-to-date. Total European shipments of uncoated woodfree in June 2020 were down 24.0% vs. June 2019 and are down 15.2% year-to-date.