NA Pulp & Paper Industry 2011 Cap Spending Up 46.5%

As reported in a PPI Pulp & Paper Survey of 20 major North American manufacturers, industry capital spending was up $4 billion in 2011 over 2010, an increase of 46.5%. In the U.S., capital spending was up 47.8% (120% 2011/2009) and in Canada it jumped 90.2%. The focus of the spending was on replacing higher-cost capacity, machine conversions, energy cost reductions, quality enhancements and environmental improvements.