Displaying items by tag: sappi

Input costs have continued to rise further in the last months as a result of pulp, chemicals and oil prices all going up substantially, with the weaker Euro exacerbating the effect. This is hitting both manufacturing and distribution costs and is reducing margins on Sappi’s coated fine papers to unacceptable levels, despite the selling price rise implemented by Sappi as from march 8th. There is no sign of these rising cost trends being reversed in the coming months.

Sappi will therefore implement a further price increase of at least 10% on its coated fine paper grades. Prices for these grades in Europe have not yet recovered from their all-time lows reached at the beginning of this year and are still low in world terms at a time of brisk order intake and increasingly high operating rates. We expect operating rates to remain strong for the foreseeable future.

This price increase will apply to woodfree coated sheets and reels for deliveries as from 1st of June 2010 onwards.

Published in Financial News
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Appleton Coated LLC, NewPage Corporation, and Sappi Fine Paper North America – together with the United Steelworkers (USW) -- commended the U.S. Department of Commerce for its preliminary dumping duty determinations against certain coated paper imports from China and Indonesia.

If these preliminary determinations are upheld at the end of the process tariffs will be imposed on imports of certain coated paper to offset the impact of the unfair advantage caused by the dumped products. The determination placed dumping margins on Chinese coated paper ranging from 30.82% to 89.71% with an all China rate of 135.80%. The Department found that a single rate of 10.62% should apply to all Indonesian coated paper producers.

The result of the Department's actions will be the immediate requirement for importers of covered paper from the subject countries to post a bond or deposit cash in an amount equal to the announced margins pending final resolution of the cases later this year.

The companies and the USW filed unfair trade cases on September 23, 2009 with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission alleging that certain coated paper from China and Indonesia had been dumped and subsidized resulting in injury to the domestic industry and its employees. The paper products covered by the petitions include coated paper in sheet form used in high-quality writing, printing and other graphic applications, with a GE brightness rating of 80 or higher and weighing up to 340 grams per square meter.

The decision by the DOC supports the allegations in the petitions that imports from these two countries are being dumped. Dumping occurs when a foreign producer sells into the U.S. market for less than the price that a producer charges in its home market or when its U.S. prices are below the cost to produce the product.

Today's decision follows the Commerce Department's determination on March 1, 2010 that Chinese and Indonesian coated paper producers benefitted from a variety of subsidies and the International Trade Commission's earlier preliminary decision finding that the domestic industry had been injured by Chinese and Indonesian paper imports.

In addition, the DOC noted that it is reviewing the Petitioners' allegation that undervaluation of China's currency provides a subsidy, as well as other new subsidy allegations in the China subsidy investigation, which could make a difference in the rates assessed in the final determination.

Leo W. Gerard, USW international president, said, “Commerce's announced dumping margins will begin to address Chinese and Indonesian unfair and predatory trade practices in this sector.  It's high time that paper sector dumping is addressed. The loss of jobs and resulting community impact has been devastating.  China's and Indonesia's practices are unacceptable and the tariff margins come as welcome news.”

“Commerce's recognition of the impact that dumped coated paper products have had sends a message that our government is interested in restoring a competitive market in coated paper. From day one, our goal has been to restore a level playing field and that's what our case is all about. Dumping has had a dramatic adverse impact on our industry and our economy as a whole and Commerce's decision opens the door to addressing this unfair practice,” said Mark Gardner , president and chief executive officer of Sappi Fine Paper North America.

Tom Curley, president and chief executive officer of NewPage Corporation, said, “The determination announced today by the Department of Commerce will help restore fair competition to our marketplace.  Dumping and subsidies have distorted our markets, placing domestic manufacturers at a distinct disadvantage.  We're proud of our product offerings and we're not afraid to compete fairly with anyone, domestic or foreign.”

John Cappy, president and chief executive officer of Appleton Coated LLC, said, “Dumping has benefitted Chinese and Indonesian producers at the expense of producers here in the U.S. Our companies have worked hard to build sustainable businesses by investing in our people and equipment to remain competitive and by supporting sustainable forestry to preserve our resources. Our employees deserve a chance to compete without fighting unfair subsidies and dumping by foreign competitors.”

The domestic industry has experienced capacity reductions and under-utilization resulting in the loss of jobs in communities all across the country. The petitions show that unfairly traded imports from China and Indonesia are a significant contributor to that underutilization of capacity, mill closures and resultant job loss.

The three companies employ about 6,000 production workers represented by the USW at 20 paper mills operating in seven states.

About Appleton Coated

Appleton Coated, headquartered in Kimberly , Wisconsin , provides focused market leadership in premium coated and specialty paper products. The Appleton Coated product portfolio includes a range of commercial printing and book publishing papers marketed under the Utopia® brand as well as specialty and private label products. Known for their performance, aesthetics, and environmental attributes, Appleton Coated manufactures their products in a state-of-the-art facility in Combined Locks, Wisconsin, hosting the newest papermaking machine of its type in North America. For more information please visit our website at www.appletoncoated.com /.

About NewPage Corporation

Headquartered in Miamisburg , Ohio , NewPage Corporation is the largest coated paper manufacturer in North America , based on production capacity, with $3.1 billion in net sales for the year ended December 31, 2009. The company's product portfolio is the broadest in North America and includes coated freesheet, coated groundwood, supercalendered, newsprint and specialty papers. These papers are used for corporate collateral, commercial printing, magazines, catalogs, books, coupons, inserts, newspapers, packaging applications and direct mail advertising.

NewPage owns paper mills in Kentucky , Maine , Maryland , Michigan , Minnesota , Wisconsin and Nova Scotia , Canada . These mills have a total annual production capacity of approximately 4.4 million tons of paper, including approximately 3.2 million tons of coated paper, approximately 1.0 million tons of uncoated paper and approximately 200,000 tons of specialty paper.  For more information, visit www.NewPageCorp.com .

About Sappi Fine Paper North America

Sappi Fine Paper North America (SFPNA) is a leading North American producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Boston , Massachusetts , Sappi Fine Paper North America is known for innovation and quality. Its brand names, including McCoy, Opus, Somerset and Flo, are some of the industry's most widely recognized and specified. SFPNA is a division of Sappi Limited (NYSE, JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg , South Africa , with manufacturing operations on four continents in 10 countries, sales offices in 50 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi Fine Paper North America at: www.sappi.com/na/ . For the media kit and past press releases, visit the “About Us” section of the website.

About the United Steelworkers

The United Steelworkers (USW) is a North American union headquartered in Pittsburgh that negotiates labor agreements representing 850,000 active workers employed in metals, mining, pulp, paper, timber, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply, energy producing industries, plus the service and professional sectors to include healthcare, municipalities and pharmaceuticals. For more information: www.usw.org/ .

Media Contacts:
Ann Whalen, Appleton Coated LLC, 920-968-3809, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Shawn Hall, NewPage Corporation, 937-242-9373, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amy Olson , Sappi Fine Paper North America, 617-423-5409, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gary Hubbard, United Steelworkers (USW), 202-256-8125, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in North American News
Tagged under
Thursday, 11 March 2010 15:00

Everybody has an idea that matters

Sappi, the global manufacturer of sustainable paper, has been supporting graphic design for the non-profit community for ten years now. Because everybody has an idea that matters, Sappi has decided to open up its "Ideas That Matter" programme to a wider community of engaged citizens. As of today, not only graphic designers (professionals or students) but public and private non-profit organisations can now submit their print campaign(s) or other projects.

Some issues in today's world demand urgent response. This is why individuals or groups can apply at any time during the year. Sappi's Ideas That Matter judging committee will evaluate the applications all year round and award paper grants on an ad hoc basis. Grants in the form of tree planting can also take place, in an area that has suffered forest fire or to offset carbon emissions for example.

To be eligible, print campaigns, projects or CSR programmes must demonstrate an environmental, sustainable and / or humanitarian impact. This can include: reducing carbon emissions, environmental footprints, improving the quality of life of people or promoting prosperity by developing local economies and encouraging sustainability.

Students have in addition the opportunity to enter a separate annual Ideas That Matter competition, within their school's curriculum. The deadline for students' entries is 1st June 2010 with winners announced mid-July.

Manue Gheysen, European Marketing Initiatives Team Leader at Sappi, said: "Sustainability is everyone's concern today and the enhanced Ideas That Matter programme reflects this change in consciousness. Sappi papers are fully sustainable and serve as the ideal medium for initiatives which advocate people's well-being, the planet and prosperity. We much look forward to extending our support to more new and creative ideas, that matter."

Sectors eligible for entries, which apply to the annual student competition and the ongoing submission by professionals, include: agriculture, animals, energy, environment, forestation, healthcare, people, science, water and education.

For all details about the new format of Sappi's Ideas that Matter and how to enter, applicants can visit: www.sappiideasthatmatter.com or contact their local Sappi representative. To find out more about Sappi: www.sappi.com or Sappi on Facebook and LinkedIn.

More about Sappi

Sappi Fine Paper Europe is the leading European producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, Sappi Fine Paper Europe is recognised for innovation and quality. Its brands include Magno, HannoArt, Tempo, Quatro, Royal, Allegro, Era, EuroArt Plus, EuroBulk, Furioso, Galerie, Mega, as well as Cento and Tauro for the uncoated graphic papers. Algro, Leine and Parade are the brands for speciality labelling and packaging papers and boards.

Sappi papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification and EMAS registration for all our mills in the EU. SFPE's mills hold chain-of-custody certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and/or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) schemes.

Sappi Fine Paper Europe is a division of Sappi Limited (NYSE, JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with over 17,000 employees and manufacturing operations on four continents in 9 countries, sales offices in 50 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at www.sappi.com.

Isabelle Roche
Press & Media Relations
Coordinator
Tel: +32 2 676 97 25
Fax: +32 2 676 96 65
Mobile: +32 479 588 025

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in European News

Paper2010 will feature two expert panels and unique programming that allows for live feedback from attendees on the issues that matter most to paper executives. Paper2010 is being held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Towers in New York City, March 21-23, 2010.

The Breakfast General Session, Part 1: Innovating for a New Era, will feature a panel of paper and packaging industry CEOs and other thought leaders who will provide insights into the impact of paper and packaging substitution, industry innovations, the business of sustainability and much more.

Panelists include:

* Mark Gardner, President and CEO, Sappi Fine Paper North America
* James Hannan, CEO & President, Georgia-Pacific, LLC
* Mary Laschinger, President, xpedx
* James Rubright, Chairman & CEO, RockTenn
* Peter Vogel, Executive Vice President, The Millcraft Group

The Paper2010 Luncheon Session, Part 2: Achieving Customer and Marketplace Driven Success, will continue the dialogue as leading paper industry customers react to industry initiatives and share insights into their business drivers and future consumer demand.

Panelists include:

* James F. Conway III, Chairman & CEO, Courier Corporation
* Guy Gleysteen, Senior Vice President, Production, Time Inc.

Both expert panels will open with a dialogue then address audience questions and respond to audience surveys and polling. New industry research will supply additional material for the discussion.

"The program will feature a two-part series of discussions to examine the most important current and future business issues from the perspective of both the industry and our customers," said American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman.

Newell Holt, CEO of the NPTA Alliance (NPTA), added, "In order to provide a unique and interactive experience, the format will allow the audience to provide electronic feedback to our expert panelists in real time."

Paper2010 is an innovative new approach to providing paper industry leaders with a comprehensive look at opportunities and challenges across the value chain from the manufacturer, to the merchant, to the customer. By combining forces and bringing together our major annual events, AF&PA and the NPTA have created a single new convention that allows paper industry leaders to gather more intelligence, make more connections, and generate more business than ever before.

Visit www.paper2010.com for the complete schedule of events and additional information on attendee registration, becoming an official suite holder and advertising in the Paper2010 Convention Daily.

Members of the press who are interested in attending Paper2010 should contact Carlton Carroll at +1 202-463-2587 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Exhibitions
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