Ahlstrom, a fibre-based speciality materials company, has closed the sale of its Aspa pulp mill in Sweden to Sweden Timber.
The transaction, which includes the entirety of the pulp mill and its operations, was initially agreed upon on 14 October 2024. The financial details of the deal remain undisclosed.
The Aspa pulp mill, known for producing both bleached and unbleached softwood pulp, caters to a wide array of applications within the paper industry and serves a global clientele.
The facility boasts an annual production capacity of approximately 200,000 tonnes and employs 174 individuals.
Sweden Timber, a domestic producer of wood, paper, and wood composite products globally, acquired the mill as it aims to diversify its offerings by integrating pulp production into its portfolio.
Sweden Timber CEO and sales head Mikael Arvidsson said: "We look forward to continuing business and developing Aspa together with the mill’s experienced team. We are committed to continuing to serve existing customers in the future with Aspa’s high-quality pulp.”
This divestment allows Ahlstrom to advance its growth transformation journey by focusing resources on its core speciality materials portfolio.
In 2023, the company reported net sales of €3.0bn ($3.2bn) and employed roughly 7,000 people.
In a related development, Ahlstrom has joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), thereby committing to collaborate with leading global companies to promote sustainability initiatives.
Through this membership, the company intends to address pressing environmental challenges such as climate change, clean air and water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution.
Ahlstrom president and CEO Helen Mets said: “Joining WBCSD presents an exciting opportunity to work alongside industry leaders, using our technologies and capabilities to tackle global sustainability issues and advance the transition to a circular economy.”
In July this year, Ahlstrom decided to move ahead with the closure of its plant in Bousbecque, France.
