sawlogs, pulplogs, pulp, wood, panels, plywood, mdf, osb, chipboard, veneer, bulk, pallets, wood, timber Metsäliitto to start statutory labour negotiations to close Kyröskoski sawmill in Finland

   Moscow. Jan 15, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. Metsäliitto will commence statutory labour negotiations at the Kyröskoski sawmill. The negotiations will concern the possible closing of the sawmill, unless a profitable solution in regard to the whole situation is found for continuing operations, the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network.

"In recent years, a lot of new spruce sawmill capacity has been created in Europe, which has decreased the competitiveness of the Finnish industry. Moreover, the amount of spruce logs is not sufficient for all mills operating in the region to be competitive. In order to enable profitable operations in the long term, it is necessary to centralise production to units which have preconditions to run at an optimal level", says Ole Salvén, Group Executive Vice President of Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry.

The negotiation proposal issued on January, 14 concerned the entire personnel at the sawmill, a maximum of 62 persons. The negotiations will start on January 21, 2010 and are planned to be concluded by the end of March 2010 in line with the negotiations schedule.

The Kyröskoski spruce sawmill is located in Hämeenkyrö in Finland. The annual volume of sawn timber produced at the mill is approximately 200,000 cubic metres. Over 50% of the production is exported, about 25% is delivered to Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry for processing and the remainder is supplied to domestic sales. Operations at the Kyröskoski sawmill have been suspended since January 2009.