North American Pulp and Paper Planned Expenditures Show Modest $1.1 Billion for Fourth-Quarter 2012

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Pulp and paper companies plan to move forward with more than $1.1 billion worth of expenditures in the fourth quarter of this year at mills across North America. Industrial Info has identified more than 80 major capital and maintenance projects that are scheduled to begin from October to the end of December. Projects range in value from $500,000 to $222 million, with the majority falling in the $5 million to $10 million range. Most of the planned expenditures are geared toward major upgrades to existing equipment and systems.

In contrast to planned expenditures for the same period last year, project counts were up from 43 for the previous year. However, the total value of expenditures fell from $1.6 billion in fourth-quarter 2011.

The U.S. has the highest number of proposed projects, with 54 that combine for $301 million and include a $60 million proposal to rebuild a paper machine at a mill in Virginia. Figures for Canada show 16 projects valued at $558 million, while Mexico is on tap for 13 projects worth $332 million.

Construction starts will be the most active in October, with 56 projects worth a little more than $773 million. Figures for November and December starts show 17 projects valued at $378 million and 10 projects worth $39 million, respectively.

Industrial Info's global coverage of the Pulp and Paper Industry currently has more than 875 active capital and maintenance projects in its database, with the value of those projects totaling more than $71 billion.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, and eight offices outside of North America, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.