Finnish plywood mills struggle with undercapacity as demand remains sluggish

Demand for Finnish softwood plywood is being weakened primarily by the construction recession, but also by cheap imports of softwood plywood from Brazil. UPM's plywood mills have been on strike all spring. The first week-long strike was in February, and production has been suspended continuously since March 3. The latest strike warning is in effect until April 13. Collective agreement negotiations between the Finnish Industries Federation and UPM Plywood began a year ago in the spring. Production Director Juhani Tenhunen from UPM Plywood says that the agreement texts were finalized in August. The spring strikes ...