UPM’s Paso de los Toros pulp mill inaugurated in Uruguay

UPM inaugurated its Paso de los Toros pulp mill in Central Uruguay in June with an event attended by the President of Uruguay Luis Lacalle Pou, several ministers and representatives of other stakeholders who have helped with the pulp and paper maker’s growth project in the country.

UPM chairman Henrik Ehrnrooth highlighted the consistent development of the sustainable Uruguayan forest industry and UPM’s operations in the country: “A key milestone for the Uruguayan forest industry was the Forestry Law which was enacted in 1987. The aim of this law was to diversify the country’s industrial portfolio, ensuring sustainable land-use and protecting its natural forests. We can all see how well it has succeeded in all these goals and created a strong new export industry in Uruguay, sustainably.

“Today we celebrate UPM’s largest investment in our 150-year history. UPM’s first eucalyptus seedlings were planted in 1990. The path from then until today has been a great cooperation between authorities, UPM and its partners. The results of this cooperation will serve the interests of Uruguay and its people as well as UPM for decades to come.”

After four years of construction in Durazno, and despite the pandemic, the Paso de los Toros pulp mill was started up in April 2023 with the first pulp delivery to customers following a month later. UPM’s third tree nursery in Sarandí del Yí started operating in the summer of 2022, and the new pulp terminal in Montevideo in October the same year. The total investment of US$3.47 billion covers the pulp mill and the port terminal as well as the local infrastructure in Paso de los Toros.

UPM’s new mill has annual capacity for 2.1 million tonnes of