Leading Stories

Weyerhaeuser Company provided an update on actions it is taking in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A union push to protect workers from COVID-19 has apparently prompted Longview WestRock mill managers to update the site's procedure for handling potential exposures to the disease.

One of Nova Scotia's cases of COVID-19 has been confirmed to be an employee at the Irving Sawmill near Truro, N.S.

Wapakoneta Mayor Tom Stinebaugh on Friday notified residents that a truck driver for Pratt Industries has reportedly tested positive for the novel coronavirus, while a second employee has since been sent home to self-quarantine for two weeks.

This business includes three containerboard mills and four box plants.

Weeks after issuing an earnings that report that revealed the company lost $295 million last year, publication printer LSC Communications is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to reports, citing "people with knowledge of the plans."

In response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic West Fraser is taking additional steps to respond to changing operating and market conditions.

The COVID-19 pandemic is creating disturbance in Huhtamaki's global trading conditions and the demand for food-on-the-go packaging is being significantly impacted.

The Company is postponing the planned extended spring maintenance shut at Northwood Pulp Mill until later this year, and instead will curtail the mill for three weeks during the period the turnaround was originally scheduled to occur. This will result in a reduction of approximately 35,000 tonnes of Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft pulp production.

Pratt said his facilities were hiring more staff to cope with surging demand. Visy has had to radically adapt. Staff are getting temperatures checked daily, social distancing is in place and office staff are working split shifts to minimise contact.

As a provider of goods and services that consumers and businesses rely on for their everyday needs, Kruger Inc. announced that it will be maintaining all of its operations that have been declared essential by Canadian and U.S. authorities or COVID-19 government guidelines, including the manufacture of tissue products, food packaging and containerboard, newsprint, publication and specialty papers, as well as recycling services, the bottling of beverages and the production of electricity.

This adjusted operating configuration will initially result in a 25% reduction to Norbord's currently operating North American mill capacity.

We feel a huge responsibility during the COVID-19 crisis, says the mill's president.

Sappi has declared force majeure on the Vulindlela expansion and upgrade project at its Saiccor Mill in alignment with the South African Government's declaration of a nation-wide lockdown to combat the COVID-19 Epidemic.

Resolute Forest Products Inc. provided an update on the impact of the COVID-19 situation to its business.

Suspension is temporary; project involves about 4,500 professionals.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö has announced it is not affected by the decree issued by the Italian government and that all of its plants are operational worldwide.

Now 420 employees remain at the plant after 102 have been temporarily laid off because of a drop in demand caused by the coronavirus.

Paperitalo Publications is here to help. We will continue reporting the news. Later this week, we will be conducting a more in-depth survey.

"As the global outbreak of COVID-19 continues to spread, we wanted to share how Mondi is addressing the challenge to ensure that the safety and health of our employees and their families is prioritized. We also recognize the importance of business continuity and serving our customers with products that are needed to sustain the public and the communities where we operate."

The story of a WestRock worker who was concerned he might be a coronavirus carrier fueled union complaints that local mill management is not taking the threat of the disease seriously.

Ben Lauren also worked as a maintenance planner at Verso Paper in Escanaba.

Clearwater Paper (CLW +10%) says it's experiencing a significant increase in demand for its retail tissue products and an increase in demand for paperboard used for packaging food and pharmaceutical products.

The shelves at the local grocery stores may be empty, but U.S. toilet paper manufacturers are adamant: We've got this.

The shelves of some stores may not have products like diapers, but they are weaving through the supply chain, according to International Paper CEO Mark Sutton.