Mikko, we have just ended the production of woodfree coated paper in Oulu. Can you comment on how long the WFC sales will continue and how do we serve our customers?
We are very committed to continue delivering woodfree coated papers to our customers until the end of 2020, maintaining the high quality of our products and service levels that customers value. Planning has been made accordingly and a big share of the customer demand has been pre-produced at Oulu mill or will be still converted to sheets at our sheeting plants: Lumipaper NV in Belgium and Lumipaper Ltd. in UK.
I would urge our customers to actively talk to Stora Enso sales representatives to benefit from any remaining excess stocks.
With what products do we serve our current WFC customers in the future?
Until year end normally with Lumi and as of next year for the most part with NovaPress, NovaPress Silk and NovaPress HB – our highest quality LWC/MWC grades produced at Veitsiluoto mill in Finland. This paper grade has already a proven track record for being a top paper for high end magazines and catalogues.
How will Stora Enso’s paper business look like after the Oulu mill conversion?
After the conversion, Stora Enso will remain the second biggest paper producer in Europe. We will offer a complete range of products covering all end uses from Newspapers, Books, Magazines, Advertising papers to a wide portfolio of Office papers.
In many product segments (e.g. Books and SC) we have a large number of unique products that help our customers differentiate and make their products stand out. The complete portfolio is available globally through our extensive sales network.
Our sheeting facility, Lumipaper NV, has had a big role in serving our European WFC customers – its role in the future?
Lumipaper NV will continue to sheet Oulu Lumi grades until year end. Thereafter it will serve in sheeting and resizing not only other Stora Enso papers but Packaging products as well.
