International Paper Reduces Capacity

International Paper Co. has announced it will shutdown two uncoated free-sheet machines early next month at one of its mills in Florida and one in Maine. The company’s planned shutdown of PM3 at its Pensacola mill in Florida and PM1 at its Androscoggin mill in Maine will affect a total of 200 jobs. Combined, the two machines produce approximately 250,000 tons of uncoated free-sheet paper annually. IP’s current annual uncoated free-sheet capacity is about 5.6 million tons between the U.S., Brazil and Europe. This curtailment is in addition to IP’s announcement last week to reduce output by 120,000 tons by the end of April at unspecified mills.