International Paper

Continuing my tour through cyclical stocks, today I am going to analyze some large packaging and paper companies. Few, if any, industries took more of a hit than paper companies in 2008-2009. Some companies, like industry leader International Paper Company (IP), have come back smartly; others may never really recover. So, I will delve into the good, the bad, and the ugly.

(Press Release) MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 29, 2011, PRNewswire—International Paper (NYSE: IP) has entered into agreements with Mr. L.N. Bangur, and related family members and affiliates to purchase approximately 53.5 percent of the outstanding shares of Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills Limited (NSE: APPAPER | BSE: 502330) for approximately US$257 million in cash.

As demonstrated by the winners of this year's Gold Ink Awards, pride in book production is alive and well in 2010.

Longfellow’s celebration of the forest primeval finds its echo today in the green revolution taking place along the supply chain of the paper industry. Although—as I learned from interviewing people who prefer not be quoted on the subject—good intentions are ahead of actual practice, it is a harbinger nonetheless of the revolutionary transformations taking place in the paper industry’s business practices. Which brings me to the subject of this column: a snapshot of the globally transforming paper industry, the state of book-paper supply, and how the present outlook shapes your paper usage and purchasing strategies. As long as print products are foundational to the

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Book Business magazine proudly announces Google’s Jim Gerber as keynote speaker for the upcoming 2007 Book Business Conference and Expo, scheduled for March 5-7, 2007, at the New York Marriott Marquis, Times Square. Gerber, director of content partnerships at Google, will present the Keynote Address on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at 9:15 a.m. The Keynote Address is open to all registered attendees. “We are thrilled to have Jim give the keynote address at the Book Business Conference and Expo. There are few companies that have as profound an influence on publishing today as Google, so it’s a major boon for our audience of

If you haven’t reviewed your options in environmentally friendly paper in a while, it might be time to do so. There are currently more than 50 papers on the market made from recycled paper, 20 of which contain 100-percent recycled content. Others contain anywhere from 10-percent to 90-percent recycled content and brightness levels up to 97. Many are also produced using more environmentally friendly bleaching processes, such as processed-chlorine free or elemental-chlorine free processes (see box below). Supply seems to be keeping pace with demand, and as more publishers are committing to improving their environmental footprints, including giant Random House (see story on page

While many publishers are taking big steps to improve their environmental impact, so are a number of suppliers. In fact, some recent developments have been especially notable. Cascades invests $2 million to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions Cascades Fine Papers Group, for example, has been the official paper supplier for printed Earth Day messages in Quebec and Canada for several years. Cascades produces papers that contain an average of 30-percent post-consumer-waste (PCW) recycled fiber. Its management has long taken into account the importance of the environment and made significant efforts toward minimizing the company's ecological impact. Recently, however, the company has taken these efforts to a

Scientists compete to make certain their company's papers don't stick, curl, jam, or smear. But even the finest papers can send a print job amok if environmental conditions are ignored. We take paper sheets for granted, never giving a second thought to the ream of paper we load into the short run digital press, laser printer, or copying machine. But the company that sold the paper is probably obsessed with every scientific detail there is to know. That, in a nutshell, explains why digital press and related vendors are going to great lengths to develop, manufacture, and sell paper that doesn't foul

Following a tense 18 months that saw paper production streamlined through consolidation, mill closings and machine shutdowns, paper producers look toward 2003 with a hint of optimism fueled by anticipation of an economic rebound. According to most manufacturers, major consolidation has strengthened the paper industry rather than harmed it, allowing companies to concentrate on their core lines to maintain their position in increasingly competitive markets. Another upbeat development expected in 2003 is further introductions of digital papers to accommodate digital short-run presses. BTM spoke with some producers who expect more consolidation in the coming year, occurring on a smaller scale. They added that

In looking back on 2001, the state of the pulp and paper market can be best described as volatile. And as the strains of "Auld Lang Syne" fade away, the outlook does not appear to be any more stable for the coming year. In fact, due to the dipping economic outlook that many pundits predicted months ago, paper buying has taken on a renewed set of competitive objectives starting foremost (and not surprisingly) with affordability. Since slower publishing demands contributed to a waning paper market throughout 2001, according to the Labor Department's International Price Program, buying habits have been greatly affected. Coupled with international