Catalyst Paper Shuttering AZ Recycling Mill
RICHMOND, BC—Catalyst Paper announced the permanent closure of its Snowflake recycling mill located in northeastern Arizona and its subsidiary, Apache Railway. The move follows extensive efforts to improve the operation’s financial performance in the face of intense supply input and market pressures. The operation, employing more than 300 workers, is slated to cease production on Sept. 30.
“The decision to close Snowflake is an extraordinarily difficult one given the exceptional effort that employees, unions and public officials have given to address the unique challenges at this mill,” said President and CEO Kevin Clarke. “We understand and regret the difficult impact within the Snowflake community and surrounding region created by closure of the mill. I want to acknowledge and thank all who have given us their unwavering support and cooperation. There were no stones left unturned.”
Catalyst implemented a number of measures, since acquiring the Snowflake operation in 2008, to address market challenges and input cost pressures. These included production of higher-value specialty paper grades at what was formerly a newsprint-only mill, capital investment, productivity, quality and service improvements, full leverage of the mill’s environmental attributes and competitive labor agreements. It has also explored a range of alternatives, including attempting to sell the mill on a going concern basis.
However, with newsprint demand down more than 10 percent annually since the end of 2008, old newsprint (ONP) price volatility and higher freight costs as procurement and sales have been forced to go further afield to source recycled paper supply and secure product orders, the mill’s profitability could not be restored. ONP prices have increased approximately 163 percent since 2009. A $5 per ton increase in ONP price has a negative impact of approximately $2 million on EBITDA and approximately $1 million on net earnings.