Pulp Paper & Logistics


INDUSTRY NEWS 7


US paper makers call for curb on dumped imports


F


our North American paper manufacturers have joined forces with the United Steelworkers


union to file antidumping petitions with the US Department of Commerce (DoC) and the US International Trade Commission (ITC) against unfairly priced imports of paper from a number of countries. In the petitions, the four paper


makers – Domtar Corporation, Packaging Corporation of America, Finch Paper llc, and PH Glatfelter Company – and the USW claim that the particular types of uncoated paper in sheets are being imported from China, Indonesia, Brazil, Portugal and Australia. Countervailing duty petitions have also been filed against subsidized imports from China and Indonesia. The petitions call for the DoC and ITC to impose duties to offset the dumping of certain uncoated paper from all five countries and


to offset the subsidies on imports from China and Indonesia. The petitions cover all uncoated paper in sheets (including cut-size and folio), weighing between 40 and 150 gsm, and having a GE brightness level of 85 or higher. The antidumping and


countervailing duty petitions indicate that imports of these products from the five targeted countries increased 44 percent from 2011 to 2013 and another 40 percent from 2013 to 2014. The imports increased despite declining annual US demand of between 8 and 9 per cent from 2011 to 2014. “Since 2011, eight US mills that


produce uncoated paper have been forced to close in the face of increasing unfairly traded imports, resulting in the loss of thousands of paper jobs,” said USW international president Leo Gerard. “The Labor Department has certified workers at seven of these mills to receive Trade Adjustment Assistance,


after concluding that imports ‘contributed significantly’ to these closures. Foreign predatory practices targeting America’s producers and workers, including tens of thousands of our members, are the root cause of production declines and job losses.” “Competition makes us a better,


stronger company, but it must be fair competition,” said John Williams, chief executive of Domtar. “This petition asks the government to look at the facts and make any adjustments required to establish a level playing field.” “Foreign paper manufacturers


are taking advantage of the unfair trade practices of dumping and subsidies to undermine US manufacturers,” added Mark Kowlzan, chief executive of Packaging Corporation of America. Under the antidumping and


countervailing duty statutes, the ITC is expected to make a preliminary injury determination in March.


New events for the global pulp, paper and biobased industries


Two new events for the pulp, paper and bio-based industries are being launched in 2016 by show organiser Adforum and leading Swedish media company Mentor Communications AB. International Pulp & Paper


Week and Bioeconomy Innovation Forum will be held in Sweden at Stockholmsmässan


from 24-26 May 2016. The events are said to be


designed by the exhibitors and the visitors themselves and are organised to match the needs of the rapidly changing forest industry. According to customer surveys carried out by Adforum, the companies wanted to combine the traditional exhibitions for the


pulp and paper industry with a totally new forum focusing on innovations and products for the biobased industries, which has been missing from the market. The Bioeconomy Innovation Forum will focus on Bioenergy, Biorefinery, Nanotechnology, Biopolymers and other products and innovations of tomorrow.


Special items dent IP profits in 2014


Net profit at International Paper was more than halved in 2014 because of the impact of special items, non-operating pension expense and discontinued operations. But it expects earnings growth and strong cash flow in 2015. Although sales for the global paper maker were up slightly by half a per cent at US$23.62 billion, net profits fell to $555 million, from $1.4 billion in 2013. “International Paper delivered


record cash from operations through strong performance by the North American Industrial Packaging group,” said chief executive Mark Sutton. “As we enter 2015, a strengthening North American economy is helping to offset a global environment that remains challenged. With our focus on execution, IP expects to deliver another year of earnings growth and strong free cash flow.”


“The new events will together with the traditional pulp and paper event offer a very strong platform for the entire forest industry,” said Marcus Bergström, chief executive of Adforum. “There are a lot of synergies between the different product groups and it is time to integrate these into the existing event.” More information from Marcus


Bergström by email at marcus. bergstrom@adforumworld.com or by telephone at 358 44 56 24 524.


January/February 2015


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