When we developed the PM40 stock index in 2004, we normalized its opening to 1,000. It has recently clocked in at 5,200, although it has been as high as 6,000 a year and a half ago. This works out to a CAGR of 7.6% per year to date. Not too shabby. Have you beat this?

The PM40 closed Friday, 31 July 2026, at 5483.

Get the latest PM40 updates by listening to the weekly Nips show and the PM40 Daily Show on Pulp & Paper Radio International.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Ennis, Inc and Universal Forest Products.

The PM40 closed 31 July 2026 up 7.1% from the 1 August 2025 level.

The Trump Administration's executive orders cut across dozens of industries. This searchable tool breaks down the orders and their impact.

The tariffs apply to a wide variety of products, ranging from raw agricultural and natural materials to chemicals, textiles, consumer goods, wood products, paper, machinery and tools.

The Board of Directors of Valmet Oyj has decided to initiate a strategic review to evaluate a potential separation of its two core businesses, Biomaterial Solutions and Services, and Process Performance Solutions, into two standalone publicly listed companies. The review will focus on assessing whether a separation of the two businesses and their operation as separately listed companies on Nasdaq Helsinki would create additional value for shareholders compared with the current combined structure.

Canada is funding eight Saskatchewan tree projects with $24.5 million to plant more than five million trees under the 2 Billion Trees program.

Does your facility have autonomous vehicles of any kind?

This is PCA's third announced containerboard increase in 2026 so far, and other top producers have previously announced similar increases at the same times. All of the companies' previous hikes this year had been for $50 to $70 per ton.

The Austrian manufacturer Lenzing will phase out production at its fibre plants in Heiligenkreuz, Austria, by the end of 2026 and Grimsby, UK, by the end of 2027.

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Incidents in 2026: We are updating this list as these happen in the pulp, paper and forest products industry

We are updating this list as these happen in the pulp, paper and forest products industry

We are updating this list as these happen in the pulp, paper and forest products industry

Check out the monthly newsletters here or subscribe and have them emailed to you hot off the press!

Pulp and Paper Manufacturers report to the US Securities and Exchange Commission

What they want us to know...

Saica Group is very pleased to announce that the EU Commission has approved the acquisition of Thimm Group plants in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania as of 24 July 2026. That includes all activities in these four countries: nine corrugated board plants in Alzey (Germany), Wolnzach (Germany), Eberswalde (Germany), Castrop-Rauxel (Germany), Northeim (Germany), Tychy (Poland), Skarbimierz (Poland), Všetaty (Czech Republic) and Sibiu (Romania) and one preprint facility in Ilsenburg (Germany).

OSHA announced its proposed penalties against Woodland Pulp for a January gas leak and March chemical fire.

Sonoco Products Company, a global leader in high-value sustainable metal and paper packaging, announced continued investment to expand its Wood Reels manufacturing and assembly footprint to meet a surge in demand for power and communications cable packaging driven by AI data center growth and power grid modernization.

The decision reflects the ongoing challenges facing the operation including prolonged weak market conditions, persistent high US softwood lumber duties and tariffs, and fibre supply impacts due to recent wildfires and the conclusion of the mountain pine beetle management strategy.

The Fondation Trois-Rivières durable and Kruger Inc. announced a major agreement to acquire and permanently protect the Boisé des Estacades (Estacades Woodland).

McKinsey & Company recently made the case for resetting cost competitiveness in pulp and paper packaging through the use of AI.