BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 8, 2023
At least two Maine paper mills that have been major buyers of pulpwood dramatically cut orders in the past couple months, causing headaches for smaller logging contractors. Sappi North America in Skowhegan and ND Paper in Rumford cut back pulpwood orders within the past couple months, citing global market conditions, soft demand for certain papers and high inventories. It is a reversal of the booming business last summer through mid-winter, when the mills were buying as much pulpwood as they could get to make paper and paying a high price. “This is causing a world of hurt throughout the logging industry,” said Harold Burnett, owner of forestry consulting firm Two Trees Forestry in Winthrop.