Metsä Board has decided to suspend its planned production conversion at the Husum mill in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The decision affects BM 2, where the company was considering a shift toward food packaging papers and siliconised greaseproof papers. The conversion will not be carried out in the foreseeable future, and no revised timeline has been announced.
The pause is driven by uncertain market conditions and shifting demand for the products under consideration. As a result, plans to convert production at the facility have been put on hold.
The BM 2 machine has been central to discussions on how the site should adapt to changing market conditions. Food packaging papers and speciality grades have been highlighted as potential growth segments, but demand forecasts have proved difficult to assess.
The decision to suspend the conversion at Husum means that existing production will continue for the time being. It remains unclear when, or if, the plans could be revived.
No further details on how the decision will affect employment levels or future investments at the site. The move reflects a wider pattern in the European pulp and paper sector, where companies are reassessing capital spending in response to uncertain demand, high costs and shifting market dynamics.
Husum remains a strategically important location for Metsä Board, but the long-term direction for BM 2 is now unresolved. The company indicates that any future changes will depend on market developments and clearer signals on demand for packaging and speciality paper grades.
