Volga Paper's Priority Remains Newsprint Exports in 2016

Volga paper Co., Russia, reports that it exported to the CIS and other countries 206,852 metric tons of newsprint (66% total sales volume) during the first 11 months 2015. The Mill supplied newsprint to 76 countries in 2015 (compared with 72 countries in 2014). Europe (35%), India (17%), Asia (17%), and Ukraine (13%) accounted for the largest share of Volga’s exports. 

Among individual countries, notwithstanding some minor redistribution of newsprint shipments, the largest importers of Volga’s product are still India (17%) and Ukraine (13%), followed by European countries (Germany, Bulgaria, Finland, and Rumania).

 

Volga has also added some new destinations in 2015, such as Curaçao, Paraguay, Cambodia, Nicaragua, Mauritius, Malaysia, Madagascar, Saudi Arabia, and Serbia. 

After a long interruption since 2010, newsprint under Volga’s brand is now again sold in France and Belgium. 

As the newsprint process has been converted to 100% TMP (thermomechanical pulp) furnish, it has brought about significant improvements in mechanical strength and printability of Volga’s paper. However, due to a shutdown of three paper machines in April 2015, Volga’s current exports are about 60% less that in January 2015.

 

Exports will remain a crucial outlet for Volga’s products in 2016. To address its vital objective, i.e. maintaining its competitive ability and securing a footprint in the newsprint market, Volga says that it is going to optimize its sales structure on an area basis, improve the logistics aspect, and utilize more flexible and effective financial tools.