Due to quality-related issues in the sugars-to-chemicals process, UPM postponed the commercial start-up of its Leuna biorefinery in Germany to the second half of this year.
Corrective works, which have been initiated, will take several months, the company said in its annual report 2024. Sequential start-up continues in the other units. Until recently, commercial start-up of the biorefinery was scheduled for the turn of the year.
Delays had already become apparent in recent weeks, market insiders reported. While Euwid enquiries about the commissioning of the plant were left unanswered due to the ‘silent period’ before the publication of annual reports, forestry companies have pointed out the lack of removal of the beech industrial timber that had been made available.
UPM also intends to focus development work in its bio-products business segment, which is important for its restructuring, and has withdrawn from the bio-composite business (UPM Composites). A withdrawal from the market for bio-medical products (UPM Biomedicals) is also planned, the company explained.
