UPM to close Kymi, Kaukas pulp mills in Sept

The forest-based bio-industry company UPM will shutdown its Kaukas and UPM Kymi pulp mills in September, said the company in a press release on Thursday.

The closure of the Kaukas pulp mill will start on September 9 and the shutdown of the Kymi pulp mill on September 23.

The shutdowns are estimated to last for three weeks.

Maintenance work will be carried out during part of the shutdown period, but temporary layoffs are possible.

UPM will adjust the production in Finland temporarily to meet market conditions.

The mills’ production will be curtailed in accordance with the change negotiations held in March.

"We are adjusting our production as a normal measure in line with market and cost developments, focusing on profitability," said Marko Sundqvist, Vice President, UPM´s Pulp Operations in Finland.

UPM's pulp mills in Pietarsaari and in Uruguay will continue to run at full capacity.

Deliveries to customers will continue normally during the shutdowns.

Earlier on Wednesday, UPM decided to permanently close its Hürth newsprint mill and to shut down one fine paper machine at Nordland Papier (PM 3) in Dörpen, in Germany.