French pulp producer Fibre Exellence has halted production at its Provence mill in Tarascon. The company announced a two-week downtime for the mill that will last from 2 to 15 March. According to a company spokesperson, production at Fibre Excellence’s second site in Saint-Gaudens is not affected and is running normally.
Fibre Excellence explained that the downtime is happening against the backdrop of persistent tensions in the industrial timber market in France, exacerbated by severe weather conditions that have disrupted supplies and logistics. Wood stocks would have to be replenished, it added. Wood purchases and pulp deliveries to customers are said to continue during the stoppage, although information from German wood suppliers suggests that the company has significantly reduced its purchasing.
Fibre Excellence is currently facing a critical situation. The company has severe financial problems and is looking for a quick solution to avoid insolvency. The French government has recently offered €150m in financial support to help the company navigate its current difficulties and preserve jobs. The company is reviewing the proposal and its conditions.
Fibre Excellence operates two pulp mills in France. The Provence mill in Tarascon makes 220,000 tpy of unbleached softwood kraft pulp. The Saint-Gaudens mill produces bleached softwood and hardwood kraft pulp with a capacity of 280,000 tpy.
