UPM will permanently close its paper mill in Ettringen, Germany on Dec. 31, reducing the company's annual capacity of uncoated mechanical paper by 270,000 tonnes.
Dec. 16, 2025 - UPM announced that it will permanently close its paper mill in Ettringen, Germany, on December 31, 2025.
UPM first announced plans to close the mill in March 2025. At that time, Gunnar Eberhardt, Executive Vice President, UPM Communication Papers, said, "With the plans announced [March 11, 2025], we are continuing to selectively adjust our paper capacity to a profitable customer demand. This would ensure an efficient and flexible use of our remaining paper assets."
UPM said the respective employee consultation process has now been completed, and the closing impacts 189 employees.
Eva Kriegbaum, General Manager, UPM Paper Mills in Germany, explained, "The negotiations were conducted within the framework of arbitration proceedings, which, as a neutral authority, supported to facilitate constructive dialogue between the employee representatives and the company. We focused on finding socially acceptable solutions for the employees affected, with the clear intention of mitigating the impact of this closure. Consequently, we will implement market-oriented severance and pension-related measures and establish a transfer company."
Following the closure of the Ettringen mill, UPM's uncoated mechanical paper production capacity will be reduced by 270.000 tonnes per year.
To ensure safe conditions at the mill following the closure, an after-care team will be installed, UPM noted.
UPM delivers renewable and responsible solutions and innovate for a future beyond fossils across six business areas: UPM Fibres, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Communication Papers and UPM Plywood. The company employs 15,800 people worldwide and has annual sales of approximately EUR 10.3 billion.
SOURCE: UPM