The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota and LifeScience Alley present Renewable Materials Summit: Emerging Markets in the Upper Midwest. The one day program will feature industry leaders focusing on the developing and established markets in renewable materials, while exploring issues yet to be confronted.

“The renewable materials industry is developing quickly,” said Kevin McKinnon, President of Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation. “Companies and communities should become educated on these opportunities so they are in a better position to capitalize on this growing market.”

The renewable materials market includes materials that are made from biological sources. These can be biofibers, biopolymers, biodegradable plastics, and bio-packaging. Familiar resources used to make these materials include corn, soybeans and wood fibers.

“The Midwest has the potential to be a global leader in the renewable materials industry,” said Dale Wahlstrom, CEO/President of The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota and LifeScience Alley. “Our region has considerable strengths in material science, engineering, and processing. From feedstock to manufacturing, we have all the capabilities to establish and grow this industry.”

Highlighted speakers include Jim Lunt and Luca Zullo. Both Lunt and Zullo are pioneers of the renewable materials industry. Lunt will draw on his 40 years of experience in the plastics industry to provide insights on the latest developments in bioplastics. Zullo will provide an overview of regional opportunities for agriculture and forestry resources in this emerging industry. The conference will be held at the Courtyard Marriot in Moorhead, Minnesota on April 27.

Thank you to our Premier Sponsors: Consulate General of Canada in Minneapolis, Fredrikson & Byron, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and North Dakota Corn Growers Association.

Also, we would like to thank our Supporting Sponsors: AgCountry Farm Credit Services, American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, Cleantech Open, Faegre & Benson, Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, GVL Poly, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, MCG Biocomposites, NDSU Bio Energy and Products Innovation Center, Biocomposites International Research Network and Red River Valley Research Corridor

Good news for the Mantua paper mill.

After having obtained the EMAS registration, the plant has just received the FSC^® 100% recycled certification; this attests that fibres used for the production of certified newsprint paper are 100% recycled and that the principles of environmental, economic and social responsibility are preserved.

Both documents highlight the strong paper mill attitude towards sustainability: starting from internal deink process of waste paper, up to manufacturing residues reused for electrical energy generation, the whole located against the subtly beautiful cultural backdrop of the city of Mantua and the Mincio Natural Park.

The FSC^® certificate will be soon available for download on our website.

Lumber demand is increasing worldwide and has resulted in higher lumber prices in the 1Q/11 in the US, Japan, China and Europe, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly

Last year global demand for softwood lumber increased 18 percent after having hit a 50-year low in 2009. The rise in demand has pushed lumber prices in North America, Asia and Europe to their highest levels in ten months, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly.

Global demand for softwood lumber increased by about 18 percent in 2010. This came after a year when wood consumption worldwide was the lowest it had been in almost 50 years. This upward trend in consumption has continued thus far in 2011, with total volume consumed being more than 20 percent higher than the same period in early 2010, according to the market publication Wood Resource Quarterly.

Not surprisingly, it is China that has been the major driver in the higher demand for lumber. The country’s sawmills are far from being able to meet the increased demand, and as a result there has been a substantial increase in import volumes the past five year, from just over two million cubic meters (m3) in 2006 to 9.4 million m3 in 2010. This unprecedented rise in shipments continued the first two months of 2011 when imports were as much as 32 percent higher than in 2010.

Practically all major lumber markets in Asia, Europe and North America experienced stronger demand last year. This resulted in higher production worldwide and also increased global trade. The world’s largest importer, the US, imported seven percent more lumber in 2010 than the previous year, while imports to the third largest market, Japan, were up almost 15 percent. In Europe, shipments were up between 10 and 35 percent to the largest lumber-consuming countries on the continent.

The improved market conditions have resulted in higher lumber prices worldwide. Although the price movements have been rocky, fluctuating substantially in some markets the past 12 months, trends have been up. In the US, southern yellow pine prices were 24 percent higher in March this year as compared to last summer. Similar upward trends have been seen with Douglas-fir lumber in Western US and for spruce-pine-fir lumber in Western Canada.

In both Japan and China, import prices for most species of lumber have trended upward since early 2009, particularly for higher-grade Russian pine to Japan and lower-grade Canadian hemlock to China, as reported in the Wood Resource Quarterly

Lumber prices can be anticipated to go up in many markets during 2011 for a number of reasons, including expected increased demand in China, somewhat higher lumber imports to Japan for the rebuilding after the earthquake, and continued measured improvements in the US housing market (mainly repair & remodeling and multi-family residential housing).

Global timber market reporting is included in the 52-page quarterly publication Wood Resource Quarterly. The report, established in 1988 and with subscribers in over 25 countries, tracks sawlog, pulpwood, lumber and pellet prices and market developments in most key regions around the world.

• Clariant holds 96.15% in Süd-Chemie after closing

• Integration process launched

• Accelerating profitable growth

Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, today announced that it has completed the purchase of 96,15% of the shares in Süd-Chemie from One Equity Partners and the family shareholders.

Clariant will make a public offer to acquire the outstanding shares from Süd-Chemie minority shareholders. The overall transaction value amounts to approx. EUR 1.9 billion (CHF 2.5 billion).

“This transaction is an important milestone in Clariant’s history. Following the successful completion of our restructuring in 2010, the acquisition of Süd-Chemie accelerates our strategy of profitable growth”, said Hariolf Kottmann, CEO of Clariant. “Together we will now start the integration process to successfully integrate Süd-Chemie into Clariant”, Kottmann added.

By acquiring leading positions in the fields of process catalysts and adsorbent agents, Clariant is expanding its portfolio with two fast-growing business-units. Süd-Chemie also has a strong research and development organization focusing on market segments with significant growth potential.

Metso will rebuild a relocated fine paper machine for the Mexican Grupo Unipak, S.A. de C.V. PT. at their new mill site Grupak Hidalgo in the municipality of Emiliano Zapata in Mexico. The start-up of the relocated and rebuilt machine is scheduled for the first quarter of 2013. The value of the order is approximately EUR 5 million. The relocated machine originally comes from the USA.

A 5.6-m-wide fine paper machine will be reconditioned and modified to manufacture recycled containerboard grades in the basis weight range of 70-195 g/m². Metso’s delivery will comprise a modernization of the forming section. Metso will also modify the dryer section, air systems, steam and condensate system as well as stock preparation system with a new dry end pulper.

Grupo Unipak, S.A. de C.V. PT. is a large Mexican company producing a variety of food packaging products. The company currently produces liner and fluting grades for its own integrated use on two machines located in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Metso has concluded an agreement to supply all main technology for the 1.5 million tonnes greenfield pulp mill of Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A., to be built in the state of Maranhão in the northeastern part of Brazil. Start-up is scheduled for the first half of 2013. A stock exchange release regarding the advanced negotiations between Metso and Suzano was published on March 1, 2011.

The value of the order is not disclosed. However, a typical value of an order of this size and scope is EUR 800-900 million. About 60 percent of this is made up by Metso-supplied equipment and systems and they will be recorded as Metso’s new orders and consequently in net sales during the delivery period. The rest covers equipment and related services from other suppliers and partners, which are also within Metso’s responsibility but is invoiced directly from Suzano by the subcontractors.

Metso’s scope of supply covers the main parts of a green field pulp mill comprising wood handling, cooking plant and fiberline, pulp drying and baling, evaporation, power boiler, recovery boiler, causticizing and lime kiln, including an integrated automation solution for all process areas. The new mill will produce 1.5 million tonnes of bleached eucalyptus market pulp per year.

“The order from Suzano emphasizes Metso's strong capabilities as a full-scope supplier for the global pulp industry. It is a result of the hard work our dedicated and knowledgeable employees have done in developing and providing leading-edge technologies”, says Pasi Laine, President of Metso’s Paper and Fiber Technology.

Suzano Papel e Celulose is a forestry-based company and one of the largest vertically integrated producers of pulp and paper in Latin America. The company’s main products, sold on the domestic and international markets, are eucalyptus pulp, printing and writing paper and paperboard.

Catalyst Paper has advised that a fire in the storage yard at its Snowflake Mill in northeast Arizona has shut down production and destroyed approximately 14,000 tonnes of recovered waste paper.

The fire broke out at approximately noon Monday in the waste paper storage area. The mill’s emergency team responded immediately and local fire departments from Snowflake, Taylor, Heber, Pinetop, Lakeside and Show Low were called in to help contain the blaze.

Fire breaks were put into place to limit the spread of the damage as high winds challenged response team efforts. As the winds eased through Monday evening, responders were able to make better progress in extinguishing the fire.

All appropriate authorities were notified and the region’s public information officer has been assisting in coordination of local advisories.  There were no serious injuries reported.

Details on the cause of the incident are not known at this time and the mill will remain down until the full extent of damage to its waste paper feed system is known. Paper production is, however, expected to resume later this week.

The Snowflake mill has annual production capacity of 337,000 tonnes of recycled newsprint and uncoated specialty papers and is chain of custody certified to the Forest Stewardship Council standard. The operation supports recovery and domestic recycling of more than 480,000 tons of waste paper annually and is the second largest private sector employer in northeast Arizona.

Catalyst Paper manufactures diverse specialty printing papers, newsprint and pulp. Its customers include retailers, publishers and commercial printers in North America, Latin America, the Pacific Rim and Europe.  With four mills located in British Columbia and Arizona, Catalyst has a combined annual production capacity of 1.9 million tonnes.  The company is headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada and its common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CTL.  Catalyst is listed on the Jantzi Social Index® and is also ranked by Corporate Knights as one of the 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada.

DS Smith Plc, the international supplier of recycled packaging for consumer goods, today issues its pre-close statement for the full-year to 30 April 2011.

DS Smith Group
The encouraging overall trading reported in our IMS of 10 March 2011 has continued, with further strong volume growth driven by our focus on the resilient fast moving consumer goods sector.

The year to 30 April 2011 is progressing in line with expectations for good improvements in return on sales and return on capital, with significant EPS growth. This reflects the continued benefit of our focus on service, quality and innovation to our customers. While we have seen the anticipated further input cost increases come through in the final quarter of the year, these costs are being recovered successfully.

Packaging
Our corrugated packaging businesses have experienced further strong underlying volume growth of around 8% in the year to date. The phased recovery of input cost increases continues in line with our strategy to achieve a shorter recovery period. The re-branding of our UK businesses, aligned under the DS Smith name for the first time, is currently underway. Our operations in France, including the Otor operations are now together under one brand, DS Smith Packaging France.

The performance of the Plastics business continues to be good, with strong volume growth, cost control and recovery of input costs.

Office Products Wholesaling
The trading performance at Spicers has continued satisfactorily. Profit improvement is expected to be good, due to continued growth in continental Europe and decisive cost control actions in the UK.

Outlook
DS Smith has strong foundations, a disciplined approach to capital allocation and cost control with attractive growth opportunities within the UK, France and Central and Eastern Europe as corrugated packaging outperforms other materials on ease of recycling.

In respect of the coming financial year, the Group expects to continue to make further progress towards its financial objectives – being sales volume growth over 3%, return on sales between 6% and 8% and return on average capital employed between 12% and 15%. This progress is a result of the successful integration of Otor combined with the continued implementation of our strategy.

Pöyry's Industry Business Group has been awarded a contract for supporting services for the overall project and construction management by Eldorado Celulose e Papel Ltda for its 1.5 million t/a bleached eucalyptus market pulp mill to be built in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. The value of Pöyry's contract is ca. EUR 8 million and the expected execution period is approximately 18 months. The value of the contract will be included in the order stock of the second quarter 2011.

Pöyry has been involved in the project since March 2010 when Eldorado awarded Pöyry a contract for pre-engineering and preparatory work for mill infrastructure. In January 2011 Pöyry was also awarded a basic and detail engineering contract for the pulp mill (see stock exchange releases of 31 March, 2010 and 13 January, 2011).

The concept of the mill is based on the use of the best available technologies and the best environmental practices, which constitute a state-of-the-art level pulp mill. Using existing eucalyptus plantations as raw material, the mill will produce more with less use of natural resources, at low production costs, progressive environmental impact reduction and minimum risks of accidents at work.

The contract strengthens Pöyry's position as the leading project management and engineering solutions provider for the pulp and paper sector in the world.

Sonoco Alcore S.a.r.l. will increase the price of coreboard and uncoated recycled board in Europe by 40 Euros/ 35 GBP effective May 9, 2011. This price increase is an addition to the earlier price increase announced in February 2011.

"Recovered fiber, starch, chemicals and energy costs have continued to increase. The current inflationary environment may mean further increases in the summer if the pricing of our base raw materials continues to rise at the current pace," said Adam Wood, vice president, Sonoco-Alcore Europe.

"Our tube and core business is also being negatively impacted, and we will likely enter a new phase of price increases, there, too, also in May."

Sonoco Alcore S.a.r.l. is a wholly owned by Sonoco (NYSE: SON) and operates six paper mills, 32 tube and core factories, and a recycling division in Europe.