North Pacific Paper Co. to Cease Newsprint Production at Longview Mill Amid Declining Demand

North Pacific Paper Co. (NORPAC) plans to cease newsprint production at its mill in Longview, Washington, effective May 1, 2026, according to industry reports citing Fastmarkets. The decision reflects continued structural decline in demand for newsprint across North America.

Following the transition, the company will continue to manufacture other graphic paper grades at the Longview facility while maintaining its recycled packaging paper production. NORPAC is also expected to increase output of recycled packaging grades, aligning with shifting market demand toward sustainable packaging solutions.

NORPAC remains a significant player in the recycled fiber market. In Recycling Today’s latest ranking of North America’s largest recovered paper consumers (December 2025), the company was placed No. 9, having consumed approximately 575,000 tons of recovered paper in 2024.

Industry data indicates that NORPAC’s exit from newsprint production will mark a major milestone for the U.S. paper sector. According to Fastmarkets, only one newsprint mill will remain operational in the United States—Inland Empire Paper Co., located in Millwood, Washington. In contrast, Canada will retain nine newsprint mills, operated by companies including White Birch Paper, Domtar, Kruger Inc., Alberta Newsprint Company, and KapStone Paper and Packaging.

The broader market backdrop underscores the shift. Data from the Pulp and Paper Products Council shows that North American newsprint production declined by 18.8% in 2025, falling to 1.66 million tons from 2.05 million tons in 2024. Demand also dropped by 15% year-over-year, highlighting ongoing pressure on the segment driven by digital media adoption and changing consumption patterns.

NORPAC’s strategic pivot reflects a wider industry transformation, as producers increasingly reallocate capacity toward packaging and higher-growth paper segments while scaling back legacy newsprint operations.