Spanish pulp and energy company Ence Energía y Celulosa has entered the fluff pulp market by commissioning a new production line for fluff pulp at its Navia pulp mill. The plant can produce up to 125,000 tpy. The mill previously had a production capacity of 685,000 tpy of bleached eucalyptus pulp. Ence says certification of the new pulp line is currently underway, and the first tests have been satisfactory.
The new line will enable Ence to expand its range of speciality grades, which are intended to replace imported fluff pulp from the USA in future, the company says. The product is intended for the European market for absorbent hygiene products and is to offer a regional, more climate-friendly alternative.
Capital expenditure for the new line amounted to €35m. Ence expects specialty pulp, including the new fluff grade, to account for more than 62 per cent of its total sales in 2028. In the first nine months of the current year, the share was almost 30 per cent.
