Norske Skog is to rebuild paper machine PM6 at its Saugbrugs mill in Norway for flexible production of either 300,000 tonnes of TMP-based kraftliner or 230,000 tonnes of SC magazine paper, at an estimated cost of USD 90.8m (NOK 850m), with start-up expected in the first half of 2028. The announcement accompanied third-quarter 2026 results showing EBITDA of USD 47.9m (NOK 448m), lifted by a USD 36.1m (NOK 338m) gain on a property sale to Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning, while production problems at its Golbey PM1 packaging paper machine in France cut volumes and held segment EBITDA to zero.
Why this mattersA conversion to kraftliner capacity at Saugbrugs would add fibre-based packaging supply in Europe just as the group's existing Golbey packaging line struggles with output.
- Estimated investment of USD 90.8m (NOK 850m) to rebuild Saugbrugs PM6, with start-up in H1 2028
- Rebuilt PM6 would make 300,000 tonnes/year of TMP-based kraftliner or 230,000 tonnes of SC magazine paper
- Q3 2026 group EBITDA was USD 47.9m (NOK 448m), up from USD 7.8m (NOK 73m) in Q2 2026
- Q3 result included a USD 36.1m (NOK 338m) gain on a property sale to Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning, with cash proceeds of USD 82.3m (NOK 770m) received in early October
- Packaging paper segment EBITDA was zero in Q3, with Golbey PM1 delivering EBITDA of USD -4.3m (NOK -40m) on 60,000 tonnes after drought, unplanned maintenance and press crushing issues
- Net interest-bearing debt was USD 473.1m (NOK 4,428m) at quarter end; significant debt repayments are scheduled for Q4 2026
- Group packaging paper segment shipments fell to 115,000 tonnes in Q3 2026 from 122,000 tonnes in Q2 2026.
- Norske Skog's Bruck, Austria PM3 line shipped 55,000 tonnes in Q3 2026 with positive EBITDA of USD 4.3m (NOK 40m), offsetting Golbey's losses.
- Norske Skog expects conditions at Golbey to improve in Q4 2026, with PM1 reaching full capacity only in 2027.
Fuji Seal France has opened consultation with staff representatives over a plan to shut its sole production site, in Fougerolles-Saint-Valbert, by spring 2027. The plant, which prints shrink-sleeve decorative labels, employs 50 people and is the Japanese group's only manufacturing base in France.
Why this mattersClosure would end Fuji Seal's French manufacturing footprint, pushing French customers toward imports or rival shrink-sleeve label suppliers.
- Fuji Seal France announced the closure plan on 20 October 2026
- The Fougerolles-Saint-Valbert site employs 50 people
- It is Fuji Seal's only production plant in France
- The plant prints decorative shrink-sleeve labels on a 10-colour rotary press
- Closure is targeted for spring 2027
- A works-council information and consultation procedure has begun
Billerud reported third-quarter net sales of USD 1,025m (SEK 10,166m), up 3% year on year, with adjusted EBITDA of USD 104m (SEK 1,032m) and cash conversion of 127%. Region Europe delivered an EBITDA margin of 12%, its best since the first quarter of 2025, while Region North America's 15% margin was held back by operational problems during the Escanaba maintenance shutdown. For the fourth quarter Billerud expects stable markets in both regions and positive pricing to offset input cost inflation.
Why this mattersBillerud passed energy-driven cost inflation through to customers in both regions, a sign that cost-led price increases in kraft paper and board are holding.
- Q3 net sales rose 3% to USD 1,025m (SEK 10,166m) from USD 999m (SEK 9,905m) a year earlier
- Adjusted EBITDA was USD 104m (SEK 1,032m), down from USD 107m (SEK 1,058m), margin 10% versus 11%
- Region Europe EBITDA margin reached 12%, its best quarter since Q1 2025
- Region North America EBITDA margin was 15%, affected by the Escanaba maintenance shutdown
- Cash conversion was 127% in the quarter
- Evolution investment programme in the US will finish in 2027 with approximately USD 50m (SEK 500m) remaining
Smurfit Westrock has completed an upgrade costing more than EUR 11m (USD 12.3m) at its Anzio corrugated packaging plant near Rome, installing a Bobst Mastercut 2.1 six-colour flatbed die-cutter. The line adds more than 20m square metres of capacity for printed corrugated, shelf-ready and display packaging and raises hourly output by over 20%. The company plans additional shifts to raise utilisation of the new equipment.
Why this mattersMore print and die-cutting capacity near Rome strengthens Smurfit Westrock's supply to food, personal care and retail display customers in central Italy.
- Investment exceeds EUR 11m (USD 12.3m) at the Anzio plant near Rome, Italy
- New line uses a Bobst Mastercut 2.1 six-colour flatbed die-cutter with a working width over 2 metres
- Added capacity exceeds 20m square metres of corrugated packaging
- Hourly production efficiency rises more than 20 percent
- Plant employs about 120 people and serves more than 300 corporate customers
- Equipment suppliers include Bobst, Emmepi Group, New Aerodinamica and Koenig & Bauer Celmacch
Holmen reported third-quarter operating profit of USD 55.4m (SEK 549m), down 26% from USD 74.3m (SEK 737m) a year earlier, as a major maintenance shutdown at its Iggesund mill cut earnings by USD 15.1m (SEK 150m). The group also plans to split its Forest business area into two units, placing wood supply for its industrial operations directly under the chief executive. Nine-month operating profit fell to USD 208.7m (SEK 2.07bn) from USD 255.1m (SEK 2.53bn).
Why this mattersA heavy maintenance quarter at Iggesund and still-low construction activity held back Holmen's earnings, with no recovery yet in wood-products demand or prices.
- Q3 operating profit USD 55.4m (SEK 549m), against USD 74.3m (SEK 737m) a year earlier and USD 69.5m (SEK 689m) in Q2
- The Iggesund mill maintenance shutdown reduced Board and Paper earnings by USD 15.1m (SEK 150m)
- Board and Paper operating profit was USD 12.9m (SEK 128m); deliveries fell to 1,026,000 tonnes from 1,061,000 tonnes
- Forest operating profit was USD 44.5m (SEK 441m); January-September harvest of 1,766,000 cubic metres was about 15% below the long-term plan
- Nine-month operating profit USD 208.7m (SEK 2.07bn), down from USD 255.1m (SEK 2.53bn); net financial debt USD 585.9m (SEK 5,810m), 11% of equity
- Holmen plans to split its Forest business area into two, with industrial wood supply reporting directly to CEO Henrik Sjölund
- Soren Petersson will lead the new forest-ownership unit and Fredrik Holgersson the wood-supply unit, with the split complete by Q3 2027 and no redundancies planned
- Wood Products nine-month operating loss widened to USD 17m (SEK 170m) from USD 7m (SEK 70m) a year earlier, though the Q3 loss narrowed to USD 2.3m (SEK 23m) from USD 5.5m (SEK 55m) in Q2
- Holmen operates five sawmills with combined annual capacity of 1.5 million cubic metres
The Singapore Environment Council has required Asia Pulp & Paper to report daily on hotspots, fire prevention and firefighting from 21 October 2026, with no end date set, after fires on the concessions of three of its Indonesian suppliers. The council, which administers Singapore's green-label scheme, can suspend APP's pulp-and-paper certification, held since May 2019, if the company cannot show that its fire monitoring, prevention and suppression measures are working.
Why this mattersSuspension would remove the green-label logo from affected APP products in Singapore, where retailer FairPrice removed APP-linked products during the 2015 haze.
- Singapore Environment Council imposed fire-reporting restrictions on Asia Pulp & Paper on 18 October 2026
- APP must report daily on hotspots, prevention and firefighting from 21 October 2026, with no stated end date
- The suppliers are PT Bumi Andalas Permai, PT Bumi Mekar Hijau and PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries (PT SBA Wood Industries)
- Singapore's National Environment Agency said smoke from fires on the suppliers' concessions could have reached Singapore, and plans to notify three more Indonesian firms
- APP received enhanced pulp-and-paper green-label certification from the council in May 2019
Ardagh Metal Packaging is accelerating and enlarging its European growth investment plan by building two new beverage can lines at existing plants in the UK and Spain, citing resilient demand after European shipments rose 6% in the third quarter. Q3 Adjusted EBITDA of USD 213m beat the USD 200-210m guidance range, and the company raised its full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to USD 785-795m. It kept its regular quarterly dividend of USD 0.10 per ordinary share.
Why this mattersTwo new can lines in the UK and Spain add European beverage-can capacity while Ardagh Metal Packaging's leverage stays above 5x Adjusted EBITDA.
- Two new can lines to be built at existing UK and Spain facilities under an accelerated and enlarged European investment plan
- Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised to USD 785-795m; Q4 guidance USD 153-163m against USD 166m a year earlier
- Q3 2026 Adjusted EBITDA rose 2% to USD 213m, above guidance of USD 200-210m
- Q3 can shipments rose 6% in Europe and fell 1% in the Americas; Europe Adjusted EBITDA rose 11% to USD 91m
- Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA was 5.1x at 30 September 2026, with total liquidity of USD 736m
- Regular quarterly ordinary dividend of USD 0.10 per share announced
Seungsan Pack, a maker of steel pallets and metal cases for heavy export cargo in Yeosu, South Korea, has been put up for sale, with Samil PwC as adviser and non-binding letters of intent already received from several investors. The company is weighing a sale of its entire equity, including control, against a minority investment, and is expected to name a preferred bidder soon. Restructuring of Yeosu's petrochemical cluster, where ethylene capacity is to fall from 3.52m to 2.13m tonnes, is squeezing local demand.
Why this mattersThe sale puts a Korean export packaging maker with overseas production in play as petrochemical restructuring in Yeosu cuts demand from its main local customers.
- Seungsan Pack, a steel pallet and metal case maker in Yeosu, South Korea, was reported for sale on 20 October 2026
- Samil PwC is sale adviser; non-binding letters of intent have been received from multiple investors
- Options are a sale of the entire equity including control, or a minority stake investment
- The company runs about 12,000 pyeong (about 40,000 square metres) of factory space in Korea and about 40,000 pyeong (about 132,000 square metres) abroad
- Yeosu ethylene capacity is set to fall by 1.39m tonnes to 2.13m tonnes under government-approved petrochemical restructuring
- Founded in 1988 as Woosuk Packaging, a cardboard box maker, the company also produces corrugated board and boxes
Guala Closures has launched Pharma by GC, a new division for primary pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging, unveiled at CPHI Milan on 6-8 October 2026. The division combines Guala's manufacturing sites in Poland and India with the engineering expertise of Austrian medical packaging specialist KWK, acquired by Guala at the end of 2025. Chief executive Andrea Lodetti said the group plans further technology investment and targeted M&A to grow the unit.
Why this mattersA beverage closures maker now offers GMP-grade pharmaceutical closures, adding a supplier for drug and nutraceutical packagers and signalling further acquisitions in the segment.
- Guala Closures launched the Pharma by GC division at CPHI Milan, held 6-8 October 2026
- The division integrates KWK, an Austrian medical packaging manufacturer with 75 years of experience, acquired by Guala at the end of 2025
- Production is based at Guala sites in Poland and India
- The range splits into Care, for prescription drugs under GMP and ISO 15378 standards produced in ISO 8 cleanrooms, and Vitality, for over-the-counter and nutraceutical products using ROPP and GPI closures in plastic and aluminium
- CEO Andrea Lodetti said the group intends further technology investment and targeted M&A to accelerate the division's growth
O-I Glass has appointed Bruno Jucá as president of its South America division. Jucá, who joined the company as an intern in 2007 and has served as CFO of O-I Brazil and global director of FP&A, is tasked with continuing the regional strategic plan.
Why this mattersAn internal appointment with a finance background keeps O-I's South American strategy under a long-serving executive rather than an outside hire.
- Bruno Jucá becomes president of O-I Glass's South America division
- He has 19 years at O-I, having joined as an intern in 2007
- Previous roles include CFO of O-I Brazil and global director of FP&A
- The appointment continues execution of the O-I Blueprint and 3 Horizons strategy in South America
Crown Holdings has elected Wayne T. Smith to its board of directors, effective 21 October 2026, expanding the board to eleven members. Smith was chairman and chief executive of BASF Corporation, the North American arm of BASF SE, from 2015 to 2021, and currently chairs Air Products and Chemicals and sits on the board of ONEOK.
Why this mattersCrown adds a former chemicals-industry chief executive to an enlarged eleven-member board, bringing large-company operating experience to its governance.
- Wayne T. Smith elected to Crown Holdings' board effective 21 October 2026
- The board now has eleven members
- Smith was chairman and CEO of BASF Corporation from 2015 to 2021, a business with approximately USD 20bn in annual revenue
- He currently chairs the board of Air Products and Chemicals, a company with approximately USD 12bn in annual revenue
- He also serves as a director of ONEOK, a company with approximately USD 33bn in annual revenue
Lordos United has completed the acquisition of a 51% stake in Cypriot corrugated box maker P&S Carton Industries for EUR 8.16m (USD 9.14m), after Cyprus' competition authority cleared the deal. The transaction, agreed on 10 July 2026, takes Lordos United from plastics into corrugated packaging; P&S Carton is described as Cyprus' only domestic corrugated box maker, supplying about 60% of local demand. Lordos United plans machinery investment at P&S Carton in 2027 and 2028.
Why this mattersA plastics packaging group's move into corrugated board signals consolidation in Cyprus' small packaging market and sets up cross-selling across both substrates.
- Lordos United acquired 35,700 shares, a 51% stake in P&S Carton Industries, for USD 9.14m (EUR 8.16m).
- Deal completed after approval by Cyprus' Commission for the Protection of Competition; share purchase agreement was signed 10 July 2026.
- P&S Carton, founded in 1991, is described as Cyprus' only domestic maker of corrugated cardboard boxes, supplying about 60% of local demand.
- Sellers retain the remaining 49% of P&S Carton.
- Lordos United estimates P&S Carton's 2025 annual turnover of about EUR 11.4m will be consolidated, with its 51% EBITDA share at about EUR 869,248.
- Lordos United plans new machinery investment at P&S Carton in 2027 and 2028 to raise capacity and cost competitiveness.
Aptar has appointed Virginie Maes as President of Aptar Pharma, effective 1 January 2027. Maes joins from Amcor, where she led the Flexibles Pharma and Medical packaging business across North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia.
Why this mattersAptar Pharma will be led by an executive recruited from Amcor's pharma and medical flexibles business, bringing in leadership from a rival healthcare packaging supplier.
- Virginie Maes becomes President of Aptar Pharma effective 1 January 2027
- She joins from Amcor, where she led global Flexibles Pharma and Medical packaging
- Earlier career includes McKinsey & Company, Terra Firma Capital Partners and Morgan Stanley
- Appointment announced by Aptar CEO Gael Touya on 22 October 2026
Winpak reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of USD 312.5m, up 10.4% from USD 283.0m a year earlier and its highest quarterly figure on record. Net income attributable to equity holders fell 3.3% to USD 35.2m as lower gross profit cut USD 2.0m from earnings, partly offset by USD 1.7m from higher volumes. Winpak expects fourth-quarter volume growth similar to the third quarter and a modest sequential margin improvement.
Why this mattersRecord volumes without earnings growth show gross-margin pressure in Winpak's food and healthcare packaging; management expects only a modest sequential margin improvement in the fourth quarter.
- Q3 2026 revenue USD 312.5m, up 10.4% from USD 283.0m in Q3 2025, a quarterly record
- Q3 net income attributable to equity holders USD 35.2m, down USD 1.2m (3.3%)
- Lower gross profit reduced Q3 earnings by USD 2.0m; higher sales volumes added USD 1.7m
- Nine-month 2026 earnings USD 99.8m, down 1.4% from USD 101.2m
- Q4 volume growth expected to track Q3, with a modest sequential margin improvement
Furukawa's subsidiary Earthtechnica has secured an order from Japanese recycler M.M. Plastic to supply an integrated system for sorting and processing household plastic containers and packaging at a new factory, targeting annual intake of about 30,000 metric tons. The factory, in Futtsu, Chiba prefecture, is scheduled to start up around spring 2028. The order extends a supplier relationship dating back to a 27,000-tonne system Earthtechnica delivered to M.M. Plastic in 2009.
Why this mattersA new 30,000-tonne sorting plant adds Japanese capacity for household plastic packaging waste under the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law, with start-up around spring 2028.
- Earthtechnica, a consolidated subsidiary of Furukawa Co., won the order, announced 20 October 2026.
- The system targets annual intake of about 30,000 metric tons of household plastic containers and packaging.
- Customer M.M. Plastic is based in Futtsu, Chiba prefecture, Japan.
- The new factory is scheduled to start operating around spring 2028.
- Earthtechnica previously supplied M.M. Plastic with a 27,000-tonne-capacity recycling system in 2009.
- M.M. Plastic operates under Japan's Containers and Packaging Recycling Law.
Singapore's Beverage Container Return Scheme collected more than 48 million plastic bottles and metal cans between 1 April and 27 September 2026, diverting over 823 tonnes from incineration, according to the National Environment Agency. The scheme puts a refundable deposit of USD 0.08 (SGD 0.10) on eligible containers, and the deposit mark has generally been mandatory since the six-month transition ended on 1 October. About 1,300 reverse vending machines were operating by late September.
Why this mattersBeverage brand owners selling in Singapore now carry deposit-marking and producer-funded return costs for plastic bottles and cans; glass, cartons and pouches remain outside the scheme.
- More than 48 million containers were returned between 1 April and 27 September 2026, diverting over 823 tonnes from incineration
- NEA estimates annual recovery potential at more than 16,000 tonnes
- Deposit of USD 0.08 (SGD 0.10) applies to eligible plastic and metal drink containers of 150ml to 3 litres
- The scheme began on 1 April 2026; the deposit mark has been generally mandatory since the transition ended on 1 October 2026
- About 1,300 reverse vending machines operated by late September 2026, run by RVM Systems, SG Recycle and TOMRA
- Operator BCRS Ltd's board includes Coca-Cola Singapore Beverages, F&N Foods and Pokka
South Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups is offering up to USD 75,500 (KRW 100m) per company to help small exporters meet the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, covering 50-70% of certification, testing and consulting costs. At a forum on 20 October 2026, beauty, food and packaging firms cited testing costs and the burden of technical documentation; the ministry will run education and consultation sessions in five regional hubs from 16 to 25 November.
Why this mattersCompliance costs under PPWR are becoming a non-tariff barrier for smaller exporters into the EU, prompting a national government to subsidise certification and testing.
- Ministry of SMEs and Startups offers up to USD 75,500 (KRW 100m) per company for PPWR certification, testing and consulting
- PFAS and heavy-metal restrictions and conformity assessments have been phased in since 12 August 2026
- A separate programme for 100 SMEs, running since April 2026, covers up to 70 percent of costs, capped at USD 5,300 (KRW 7m) per company
- Recyclability and recycled-content requirements under PPWR phase in from 2030
- Regional PPWR education and consultation sessions run from 16 to 25 November 2026 in five hubs
- Applications for the overseas standards certification programme are open through 30 November 2026
