Finnish forestry group UPM-Kymmene will permanently close its Jyvaskyla mill, which produces spruce and birch plywood in central Finland. Closure of the mill, which employs 167 people, will save the company around €11m. However, UPM will continue to operate its mill in Russia, which it has operated for 30 years. “Competition in the birch plywood market is increasing constantly. New birch plywood capacity has been built especially in Russia, where the production cost level is significantly more competitive than in Finland,” UPM wrote in a statement. UPM said it would book €22m in restructuring charges in its April-June results. The company has initiated a consultation process concerning the entire personnel working at the mill in Jyvaskyla.
