SA pulp and paper group moves to consolidate dissolving pulp leadership

Pulp and paper producer Sappi plans to significantly expand its operations in South Africa, Europe and the US by 2020, starting with the preparatory work for the potential expansion of its South Africa-based Saiccor dissolving wood pulp (DWP) mill. The South African group supplies about 20% of DWP to the global market — mostly to China, India and Indonesia. The group’s capital expenditure in 2018 is expected to increase to $450-million as it continues to convert mills in South Africa, Europe and the US to produce greater amounts of DWP and specialty packaging.