NA April Coated Mechanical Demand Up

As reported by the Pulp & Paper Products Council, April North American coated mechanical shipments fell -1.1%, demand was up +3.6% and imports declined -8.8%. The operating rate was 86%. Coated woodfree shipments decreased -1.4%, demand was down -1.1% and imports rose +6.5%. The operating rate was 84%. North American SC-A/SC-A+ shipments fell -16.3%, demand declined -22.3% and imports decreased -38.3%. The operating rate for all Supercalendered paper was 100%.

St. Mary's Fate

http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/details.asp?c=42358

A month ago St Mary’s Paper mill has been officially purchased by Ontario-based Riversedge Development Inc. through an Ontario court approved receivership process.
Over the course of this year, the Riversedge team will be undertaking a number of activities to prepare the former St. Marys Paper property for redevelopment.
The first step will be the decommissioning of the mill.

 

Port Hawkesbury Update; Lawsuit & Power Agreement

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/96158-amec-americas-sues-nsp-newpage-port-hawkesbury-for-15-million

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2012-05-16/article-2981309/Man-behind-paper-mill-bid-speaks-to-business-leaders/1

Amec Americas Ltd. of Dartmouth is suing NewPage Port Hawkesbury Corp. and Nova Scotia Power Inc. for $1,522,490.72 it alleges it is owed for unpaid design, engineering and construction management work on a controversial $208-million biomass project.

Under a proposed arrangement with Nova Scotia Power, the mill will pay for all incremental costs associated with the mill being on the NSP system, and contribute to the utility’s fixed costs.

The private utility would also take a stake in the mill and be paid for electricity via dividends.

Marc Dube, the mill’s proposed restructuring manager said that 315 people will be hired for the mill, including some who will carry out capital improvements at the mill.

FPAC; Vision 2020 for Forest Product Industry

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/17/4497164/vision-2020-charting-a-bold-and.html

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is today unveiling a new industry-led vision that outlines where the forest industry sees itself by the year 2020.  Through its accompanying goals, the vision will challenge companies, governments and other partners to find innovative ways to further transform the sector to reach its potential.

Under the brand of "Canada's Natural Advantage", the FPAC vision states that "by 2020, the Canadian forest products industry will power Canada's new economy by being green, innovative and open to the world.  It is a place to grow and prosper."

WE Paper Demand Declines

Paper demand falls across Western Europe:
Using latest figures from IMF, Eurograph and ZenithOptimedia the report shows demand for coated, wood-containing paper used in books and newsprint fell by 8% in Q1 of 2012 compared with the same period last year. Total European demand for magazine paper also declined by 4%.
Magazine SC paper was the only product to experience a rise in demand, increasing by 3%, while Western Europe deliveries showed a slight increase of 1%.

USPS Offering Summer Discounts

 http://chiefmarketer.com/blog/bad-move-usps-decreases-summer-mail-discount

For the second summer in a row, the U.S. Postal Service is offering discounts for summer mailings that use QR codes.

The postal service giving mailers a 2% discount, down from the 3% offered to participating mailers for the past two years.

During July and August, the discounts will apply to standard and first class letters, flats and cards that include a two-dimensional barcode or other media that can be read or scanned by a mobile device, according to the USPS. These codes can go directly to smartphone users’ personal URLS, according to the USPS.

Standard Register Receives NYSE Notice

Standard Register Receives Continued Listing Standards Notice from NYSE: Standard Register today announced that on May 14, 2012, the Company was notified by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) that it was not in compliance with the NYSE’s continued listing standard that requires that the average closing price of a listed company’s common stock not fall below $1.00 per share for any consecutive 30-trading-day period.