The global pulp and paper industry continues to undergo significant transformation as companies respond to fluctuating demand, rising production costs, sustainability pressures, and technological advancements. February 2026 developments highlight major investments in production capacity, mill upgrades, product innovations, pricing adjustments, and financial performance updates across global markets.

Product Price Changes and Market Pricing Developments

Brigl & Bergmeister Announces Label Paper Price Hike from April
Brigl & Bergmeister announced a price increase for its label paper products effective April, citing rising raw material and energy costs as the primary drivers. The adjustment aims to restore margins and maintain sustainable supply to converters and packaging producers.

Sappi Europe Announces Price Increase for Fusion Topliner Effective April 2026
Sappi Europe announced a price increase for Fusion Topliner grades beginning April 2026 to offset cost inflation across raw materials, energy, and logistics. The company highlighted the need to maintain profitability while continuing to supply high-performance linerboard products.

Sappi Europe Announces Price Increase for Label Papers
Sappi Europe also introduced a separate price increase for label papers across European markets. The move reflects strong demand for specialty label materials and rising input costs across the supply chain.

Sappi Europe Announces €50/Ton Price Increase for Woodfree Coated Sheets
Sappi Europe will increase prices for woodfree coated sheets by €50 per ton, effective in the coming months. The increase aims to address sustained cost pressures while ensuring continued investment in product quality and manufacturing reliability.

Chinese Paper Mills Raise Whiteboard Prices
Several Chinese paper mills announced price increases for whiteboard grades, reflecting stronger demand and rising production costs. The increases are expected to stabilize margins in the packaging board segment.

Lecta to Increase Two-Side Coated Woodfree Prices by 8%
Lecta announced an 8% price increase for its two-side coated woodfree papers effective April 1, 2026. The company stated that rising pulp, energy, and logistics costs have made the adjustment necessary to sustain operations.

SCA to Increase NBSK Pulp Price
SCA announced a price increase for Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp. The adjustment reflects tightening pulp supply and rising production costs across the global pulp market.

Kemira Announces Price Increase for AKD Wax
Kemira increased prices for its AKD wax used in paper sizing chemicals. The company cited increasing raw material and manufacturing costs for specialty chemicals used in paper production.

Project Start-Ups and Capacity Expansions

La Fabril Expands Baby Diaper Production Capacity
La Fabril announced an expansion of its baby diaper manufacturing capacity to meet rising demand in hygiene products. The investment is expected to strengthen the company’s position in regional consumer goods markets.

Elopak Announces New Coating Line Investment in Terneuzen
Elopak will invest in a new coating line at its Terneuzen facility to enhance production capabilities for liquid packaging board solutions. The investment supports growing demand for sustainable beverage and dairy packaging.

Baosuo Group Secures 150,000 TPY Tissue Production Project with RGE
Baosuo Group secured a contract to supply equipment for a 150,000-ton-per-year tissue production project at Royal Golden Eagle’s Shandong base. The project will strengthen RGE’s tissue manufacturing capacity in China.

Nine Dragons Paper Accelerates Expansion of Integrated Pulp and Paper Capacity
Nine Dragons Paper is accelerating investment in integrated pulp and paper production facilities to strengthen vertical integration. The expansion aims to improve raw material security and increase efficiency across its large manufacturing network.

Shandong Bohui Paper Plans Chemical Pulp Capacity Upgrade
Shandong Bohui Paper announced plans to upgrade its chemical pulp production capacity. The project will enhance supply security for the company’s paper and board operations.

Century Sunshine Plans 500,000-Ton Bleached Chemical Pulp Line
Century Sunshine plans to construct a 500,000-ton bleached chemical pulp production line in Shouguang. The project represents a major investment in pulp capacity to support growing domestic paper production.

Hubei Wuzhou PM22 and PM25 Paper Machine Projects
Hubei Wuzhou is progressing with installation of PM22, expected in Q3, while PM25 is scheduled to launch in June. These projects will increase the company’s specialty paper production capacity.

Nine Dragons Paper (Leshan) Specialty Paper Project
Nine Dragons Paper’s 60,000-ton specialty paper project in Leshan is expected to begin trial production soon. The facility will focus on high-value specialty grades to diversify the company’s product portfolio.

Hayat Invests $103 Million in Tissue Plant in Algeria
Hayat announced a $103 million investment to build a new tissue production facility in Algeria. The plant will support growing demand for hygiene and tissue products across North Africa.

Kuantum Papers Doubles PCC Production Capacity
vKuantum Papers doubled its PCC production capacity to 50,000 tons per year. The expansion improves operational efficiency and supports higher quality paper production.

Alliance International Launches UAE Paper Mill Project
Alliance International announced plans to develop a new paper mill in the United Arab Emirates. The project aims to strengthen regional packaging paper supply.

MEPCO Plans to Double Production Capacity by 2027
Middle East Paper Company plans to double its production capacity by 2027 through new investments and equipment upgrades. The expansion reflects increasing packaging demand in the region.

Kerala Cabinet Approves $89 Million Expansion for KPPL
The Kerala government approved an $89 million expansion for Kerala Paper Products Limited. The project will modernize production lines and improve operational efficiency.

Visy Opens Packaging Hub in Tasmania
Visy opened a new packaging hub in Tasmania to strengthen logistics and packaging services for regional customers. The facility will support local manufacturing and distribution.

CBS Packaging Acquires 120,000 sq ft Facility in Walsall
CBS Packaging expanded its operations with the acquisition of a new 120,000 square foot facility in Walsall. The site will increase production and storage capacity.

Technology Installations and Mill Upgrades

Cartiera San Martino Restarts Production After Technological Upgrade
Cartiera San Martino restarted production following a major modernization program. The upgrades improved efficiency and enhanced the mill’s production capabilities.

Valmet Enhances Fiberboard GmbH with Advanced Debarking Solutions
Valmet supplied advanced debarking technology to Fiberboard GmbH to improve wood processing efficiency. The system increases raw material utilization and reduces operational waste.

Kama Modernizes Compressor Station at Paper Plant
Kama completed modernization of a compressor station at a paper production facility. The upgrade improves energy efficiency and operational reliability.

Runtech Installs RunEco Vacuum System at Rondo Ganahl
Runtech installed its RunEco vacuum system at Rondo Ganahl’s Austrian mill to enhance energy efficiency and improve paper machine performance.

Valmet Supplies Log Line to Price Companies Louisiana Mill
Valmet delivered a new log line system to Price Companies’ Louisiana facility. The system improves raw material processing efficiency.

ABB Future-Proofs Billerud Gävle Operations
ABB introduced advanced automation technologies to future-proof Billerud’s Gävle mill operations. The modernization supports digitalization and predictive maintenance.

AFT Installs Refiner at Essity Mannheim Mill
AFT installed a refiner at Essity’s Mannheim facility to improve fiber processing and production efficiency.

Indah Kiat Starts High-Capacity ANDRITZ OCC Line
Indah Kiat started a new high-capacity OCC processing line supplied by ANDRITZ. The installation enhances recycled fiber processing capacity.

Jining Hualong OCC Pulping Line Contracts
Jining Hualong signed contracts to supply OCC pulping lines to two paper manufacturers, supporting the expansion of recycled fiber processing.

Fábrica de Papel da Lapa Upgrades Paper Machine
The Portuguese mill upgraded its paper machine with Bellmer technology to improve performance and production reliability.

Valmet FlexBatch Available for DNAe DCS System
Valmet introduced FlexBatch functionality for its DNAe distributed control system to improve process control flexibility.

Seshasayee Paper & Boards Commissions Black Liquor Pressure Filter
A new black liquor pressure filter was commissioned at Seshasayee Paper & Boards to improve chemical recovery and operational efficiency.

Shutdowns, Closures and Insolvency Developments

Vipap Videm Krško Initiates Bankruptcy Proceedings
The Slovenian paper producer initiated bankruptcy proceedings due to financial challenges and market pressures.

Ahlstrom Announces Manufacturing Shutdowns
Ahlstrom announced manufacturing shutdowns as part of a strategic footprint optimization plan to improve long-term competitiveness.

Mondi Closes Three Plants Including Corrugated Site in Türkiye
Mondi closed three facilities, including a corrugated packaging plant in Türkiye, as part of restructuring to streamline operations.

Hainsberg Paper Mill Files Insolvency Again
Germany’s Hainsberg Paper Mill filed insolvency proceedings again amid ongoing financial difficulties.

Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper Produces Final Reel
Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper produced its final reel, marking the closure of the mill after more than a century of operations.

Saica’s Zaragoza Mill Resumes Operations After Fire
Saica restarted operations at its Zaragoza mill following fire damage, though production remains limited during recovery.

International Paper to Close Union Gap Facility
International Paper announced plans to close its Union Gap facility in Washington, resulting in job losses as part of corporate restructuring.

FM Cartiere Plans Restart of Momo Mill
Italian recycled board producer FM Cartiere plans to restart production at its Momo mill in Q2 2026 with a new product focus.

Mergers, Acquisitions and Strategic Transactions

Millcraft Acquires Steen Macek Paper
Millcraft announced the acquisition of Steen Macek Paper to expand its distribution capabilities and strengthen customer service.

Northwood Acquires Kimberly-Clark Tissue Mill in Wales
Northwood acquired Kimberly-Clark’s tissue mill and related assets in North Wales to expand its tissue manufacturing footprint.

Nippon Paper and Pentarch Acquire Softwood Chip Company
Nippon Paper and Pentarch Forestry jointly acquired a New Zealand softwood chip supplier to secure fiber resources.

TC Transcontinental Sale of Packaging Business to ProAmpac
Shareholders approved the sale of TC Transcontinental’s packaging business to ProAmpac as part of strategic restructuring.

Product and Innovation Developments

Holmen Launches Whiter Book Paper
Holmen introduced a new whiter book paper grade designed to improve readability and visual appeal in publishing applications.

Saica Launches Recycled Paper Adhesive Tape
Saica introduced its first recycled paper adhesive tape, providing a more sustainable alternative to plastic packaging tape.

Sustainability and Energy Projects

Delfort Converts Mill to Fossil-Free Energy
Delfort converted its mill operations to fossil-free energy, significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Metsä Group Starts Lignin Product Demo Plant
Metsä Group launched a demo plant in Äänekoski to produce new lignin-based products, supporting the development of bio-based materials.

Daio Paper Receives ¥8 Billion Grant for Coal Boiler Shutdown
Daio Paper received a government grant to shut down coal boilers and transition toward cleaner energy sources.

Industry Events

Moulded Fibre Packaging Europe 2026 Event Announcement
The upcoming Moulded Fibre Packaging Europe 2026 event will showcase innovations in sustainable packaging materials.

Registrations Open for Gulf Print & Pack 2026
Registrations have opened for Gulf Print & Pack 2026, a major industry event focused on printing and packaging technologies.

Conclusion

Recent developments across the pulp and paper industry reflect a sector balancing cost pressures, operational restructuring, and strategic investment. While market conditions remain challenging in some segments, companies are responding through capacity expansions, technology modernization, and portfolio optimization.

Pricing adjustments, sustainability initiatives, and continued investments in advanced manufacturing technologies indicate a strong focus on improving efficiency and long-term competitiveness. As demand patterns evolve, the industry is expected to increasingly prioritize high-value products, sustainable materials, and integrated production models to support future growth.