Sylvamo commits US$145M to enhance South Carolina operations

USA – American paper company Sylvamo plans to invest approximately US$145 million in its two South Carolina, USA facilities to achieve cost savings and operational efficiency. 

The investment will enhance Sylvamo’s Eastover mill and Sumter sheeting plant operations, improving production capacity and cost-effectiveness. The announcement coincides with the Eastover mill’s 40th anniversary.

Sylvamo will allocate around US$100 million to accelerate one of its paper machines by the end of 2026, bringing it to the same world-class standard as the mill’s other machine.

This upgrade will increase annual production by approximately 60,000 short tons of uncoated freesheet paper.

An additional US$45 million will be invested in a state-of-the-art replacement sheeter at the Sumter plant.

When it becomes operational in late 2026, this advanced cut-size sheeter will convert large paper rolls from the mill into sheets, enhancing flexibility and reducing costs.

Jean-Michel Ribiéras, chairman and chief executive officer of Sylvamo, emphasized the company’s strategic vision, “We believe investing in our low-cost assets will strengthen our competitive advantage.

“Eastover is one of the most competitive paper mills in the world, and it will continue to be an important part of our story for years to come.”

In addition to facility upgrades, Sylvamo has entered a 20-year partnership to outsource Eastover’s woodyard operations.

This modernization effort will lead to more efficient, cost-effective wood processing while providing increased operational flexibility.

The move will also enable Sylvamo to avoid approximately US$75 million in capital expenditures over the next five years.

To celebrate these investments, the company plans to host an event at the Eastover mill in the coming months with employees, community partners, and elected officials.

Sylvamo’s fully integrated Eastover mill is one of the world’s most technologically advanced paper mills and North America’s largest, lowest-cost producer of uncoated freesheet paper.

The mill generates over 90% of its energy in-house, employs more than 800 people, and supports over 5,000 related jobs in the region.

It is located in Richland County, 30 miles east of Columbia, South Carolina, near the Wateree River and Congaree National Park.

The Sumter sheeting plant, situated 30 miles from the mill, employs over 100 people. The two facilities produce well-known paper brands such as Hammermill, HP Home & Office, and Williamsburg printer paper and products used in envelopes, folders, forms, and notepads.

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