In Finland, Stora Enso announced positive third quarter results and new investments of 94 million Euros to grow in renewable materials and to increase competitiveness in consumer board and biomaterials. One investment of 52 million Euros will increase their total dissolving pulp capacity, from 150 000 tons to 430 000 tons annually at Enocell Mill in Finland. Their dissolving pulp is used to produce viscose fibers for the textile industry. Stora Enso will also invest 42 million Euros to enhance their chemi-thermomechanical pulp annual production at Imatra Mills, also in Finland. They plan on using it to help commercialize micro-fibrillated cellulose for lighter, more durable packaging.
Karl-Henrik Sundstrom, Stora Enso’s CEO, said in the press release, “I am very pleased to announce the third consecutive quarter of sales growth, with an increase of almost 5%. This is mainly driven by our steady progress in the transformation projects in China, Varkaus and Murów. Additionally, a favourable price development had a positive impact. If we look at sales excluding the paper business, it increased over 11%.”