The Times-Standard newspaper reports that Evergreen Pulp Inc, located in Samoa, has been sold for $26m by it's Chinese owners. 

Evergreen Pulp Inc, Samoa

The sale, by Lee and Man, is apparently part of a restructuring arrangement that will allow the mill to clear debt to suppliers.  It recently curtailed operations due to reduced demand (and lower prices) in global pulp markets.  It is reported that the mill will be closed for 3-6 months and there may be some cuts to the 200 plus workforce.

It is the only pulp mill in California and has an ouput capacity of 200,000 tons per year.  The mill produces totally chlorine free (TCF) bleached and unbleached Kraft pulp for export.  It commenced operation in 1965 and has had a number of owners.  Lee and Man acquired the mill in 2005 and have reportedly invested in the region of $40m on upgrades and improvements.

The mill is a major employer and an important part of the forest products industry on the North Coast.  Feedstock includes pulpwood (small diameter logs).  This represents a logical market for small diameter material resulting from forest management activities.  We all hope that operations will commence as soon as possible and that job losses are minimized.  More information on the mill is available on the Evergreen website.

Thanks to Tad Mason at TSS Consultants for passing this information on.  The full story is on the Times-Standard website.