RISI Report: Leipa to Increase LWC Prices January 1, 2018

Sappi increases prices for its LWC and MWC grades prices by 6-8% from July 1st 2018 for all markets due to continued cost increases and strong demand. This follows previous announcements made for its woodfree coated and woodfree uncoated grades.

A bi-partisan group of the House of Representatives on September 18 asked the International Trade Commission (ITC) to deny a petition filed by the North Pacific Paper Company (Norpac) that requests antidumping and/or countervailing duties of over 50 percent on newsprint imported from Canada. The bipartisan letter, led by Representatives Chuck Fleischmann (R-Chattanooga, TN) and Jamie Raskin (D-Rockville, MD), argued that a well-documented shift from printed newspapers to digital alternatives has caused a dramatic decline in newsprint consumption. And, that this trade dispute, brought on my one mill with 400 employees, could put at risk 175,000 jobs in the newspaper industry. Other representatives that signed the letter include House Republican Conference chair, Cathy McMoriss Rodgers (R-WA) and representatives Mike Rogers (R-AL), Diane Black (R-TN) and Ralph Norman (R-SC). Last week the Alliance Board of Directors sent its own letter to the ITC opposing the petition. The petition is also opposed by a broad coalition of U.S. and Canadian paper manufacturers, who understand that sharp price increases on customers could accelerate the decline in newsprint demand. The ITC is expected to make a preliminary determination on petition on September 22. If the Commission decides to move forward, the ITC and the Department of Commerce will conduct investigations and hearings that could lead to a final determination in late spring 2018.

WestRock Company announced Alpa Sutaria has joined the Company as senior vice president, Strategy and Sustainability. In her role, Sutaria will lead WestRock’s enterprise strategy development work as well as partner with business leaders to drive company-wide strategic initiatives. She will also be responsible for strengthening WestRock’s position as a leader in sustainability Alpa comes to WestRock from the Coca-Cola Company, where she most recently served as vice president and general manager of Sustainability, North America, responsible for embedding sustainability into the company's overall business strategy. She led efforts to advance the company’s sustainability objectives, including efforts to reduce packaging waste, increase water sustainability and improve the company’s carbon footprint. Throughout her tenure at Coca-Cola, Alpa held a variety of Strategy, Marketing, and Finance leadership roles. Additional experience includes a strategy and operations role at Deloitte where she led a broad range of complex projects from concept through execution.