Domtar Provides Update on Capacity Reduction Plan to Address Ongoing COVID-19 Business Conditions
April 27, 2020
Company to temporarily idle Hawesville, Kentucky mill
FORT MILL, SC – Domtar Corporation provided an update to its previously announced capacity reduction plan, which is designed to temporarily right-size production capacity in light of the business conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Domtar plans to temporarily idle the operations of its Hawesville, Kentucky, mill beginning May 5th 2020. The company expects to restart the H1 paper machine in June 2020, while the H2 paper machine will remain idled until July 2020. The temporary shutdown will reduce Domtar’s uncoated freesheet paper production capacity by approximately 83,000 short tons. As a result of the shutdown, Domtar will temporarily lay off approximately 400 employees at the Hawesville mill.
This incremental action follows Domtar’s idling of its Kingsport, Tennessee, mill and the A62 paper machine at its Ashdown, Arkansas mill. Combined, the temporary shutdowns will reduce production capacity by approximately 227,000 short tons of uncoated freesheet paper. The Company anticipates inventory to be at appropriate levels after this downtime.
“We regret that this temporary action will have an impact on our exceptional people and their families. We are doing everything we can to help them through this unprecedented period, and we have great confidence in the long-term strength and viability of our paper mills,” said Mike Garcia, President Pulp and Paper division.
Beyond these temporary shutdowns, all of Domtar’s other facilities remain fully operational and shipments continue to proceed without disruption. The health and safety of Domtar’s employees remains its central focus as the Company works to operate its business as efficiently as possible to meet the needs of its customers.
For more details on how Domtar is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the Business Continuity section of Domtar’s website.
– BUSINESS WIRE
About Domtar
Domtar is a leading provider of a wide variety of fiber-based products including communication, specialty and packaging papers, market pulp and absorbent hygiene products. With approximately 9,700 employees serving more than 50 countries around the world, Domtar is driven by a commitment to turn sustainable wood fiber into useful products that people rely on every day. Domtar’s annual sales are approximately $5.2 billion and its common stock is traded on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges. Domtar’s principal executive office is in Fort Mill, South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com.
