UPM to raise Fray Bentos pulp output to 1.5m tonnes without new permit

UPM plans to raise annual output at its Fray Bentos pulp mill in Uruguay from 1.3m to 1.5m tonnes through technology and efficiency improvements. At a meeting in Fray Bentos of the working group under the Uruguay-UPM investment contract, presidency secretary Alejandro Sánchez said no new ministerial environmental authorisation is needed, as UPM is not seeking to change its permits or increase environmental flows.

Why this mattersAdding 200,000 tonnes a year by debottlenecking, without a new environmental permit, gives UPM extra pulp volume in Uruguay faster and with less approval risk than new capacity.

• Fray Bentos mill output is planned to rise from 1,300,000 to 1,500,000 tonnes a year
• The increase is to come from technology and efficiency improvements
• The Uruguayan government says no new ministerial environmental authorisation is required
• Officials said the plan needs no increase in environmental flows and leaves existing permit parameters unchanged
• The plan was discussed at a meeting in Fray Bentos of the working group under the Uruguay-UPM investment contract, reported on 21 October 2026
• Presidency secretary Alejandro Sánchez led the government delegation; environment minister Edgardo Ortuño attended

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