Metsä Board has suspended its plans to convert production at its Husum mill in Sweden, putting an indefinite hold on a project that would have repositioned part of the site toward specialty packaging grades.
The company had been evaluating a conversion of the BM 2 production line to manufacture food-grade packaging papers and siliconised greaseproof papers — segments seen as aligned with evolving brand and consumer expectations around sustainable packaging solutions. That transition is now paused, with operations continuing under the mill’s current production configuration.
The decision reflects softer visibility in market demand and shifting conditions for those specialty grades. In a context marked by cautious ordering patterns and uneven recovery across packaging markets, the move signals a preference for operational stability over near-term capacity repositioning.
For Husum, the pause does not signal a structural retreat but rather a recalibration. By maintaining the existing setup, Metsä Board preserves flexibility while monitoring demand fundamentals before committing further capital or capacity adjustments.
The Husum mill remains a strategic asset within the group’s Nordic production footprint, and any renewed conversion initiative will likely hinge on clearer long-term demand signals in specialty packaging papers.
Metsä Board is a leading European producer of premium lightweight paperboards.
Source: Metsä Board
