Finnish paperboard producer Metsa likely to temporarily shut mill due to strike

Metsa Board Oyj

11/03/2024 19:11

STOCKHOLM, March 11 (Reuters) - Finnish paperboard
producer Metsa Board  METSB.HE  said on Monday it expects to
temporarily shut down one of its mills later this week due to a
two-week political strike affecting Finland's harbours and
railroad system.
    Industrial, logistics and electrical workers began a
two-week strike on Monday, targeting exports, imports and cargo
transportation. 
    The strike is the latest in a series of trade union actions
protesting labour market reforms and proposed cuts to the social
welfare system by Finland's right-wing government. 
    A Metsa spokesperson said its mill in Joutseno in southern
Finland would need to be temporarily idled as a result of the
strike due to raw-material shortages. 
    The spokesperson did not have an estimate of how the strike
would affect Metsa's other mills in Finland.  
    "Of course the target is to keep the mills operational
throughout the strike as much as possible, depending on the
length of the strike," the spokesperson said. 
    Production at the closed mill is expected to ramp up after
the strike ends and employees will do maintenance work in the
meantime, the spokesperson added.
    Metsa does not expect its Swedish mills to be affected by
the strike. 
    Many companies are anticipating an impact from the strike
action. Earlier on Monday, Swedish metals maker Boliden  BOL.ST 
said it expected a 300 million-crown ($29.35 million) hit to
first-quarter profit, while Finnish forestry firm UPM plans on
temporarily closing a paper mill. 
    
($1 = 10.2199 Swedish crowns)

 (Reporting by Marie Mannes in Stockholm and Louise Breusch
Rasmussen in Copenhagen; Editing by Nia Williams)
 ((marie.mannes@thomsonreuters.com; +46 8 502 423 82;))