Stora Enso plans to centralise its pine timber sawing operations in Northern Finland by transferring production from the Veitsiluoto sawmill in Kemi to its other sawmills, particularly those in Oulu and Kalajoki. The proposed change is part of the company’s strategy to improve efficiency, profitability and competitiveness.
The plan would lead to the permanent closure of the Veitsiluoto sawmill, which has been operating for more than 100 years. Stora Enso Veitsiluoto Oy and Stora Enso Oyj will now begin change negotiations covering approximately 60 employees at the mill. The negotiations are expected to last three weeks, and no final decision on the closure or potential personnel reductions will be made before the process is completed.
According to the current plan, the Veitsiluoto sawmill would not resume production in October 2026 following the temporary production curtailment currently in place.
The company said that continuing production at Veitsiluoto would require significant investments, while its modern Oulu sawmill is currently ramping up operations. The centralisation is therefore intended to strengthen the efficiency and competitiveness of Stora Enso’s sawmilling activities in Northern Finland.
“In recent years, Stora Enso has expanded its sawmilling operations in northern Finland to deliver high-quality sawn goods for demanding applications, complementing our expanding high-quality board production,” said Matti Lielahti, Head of Stora Enso Business Unit Oulu. He added that the company is committed to conducting the negotiations responsibly and constructively and to supporting employees throughout the process.
Stora Enso’s Business Unit Oulu employs approximately 900 people across its board mill, port operations and sawmill in Oulu, as well as its sawmills in Veitsiluoto, Oulainen and Kalajoki. If implemented, the closure of Veitsiluoto would have only a minor impact on the business unit’s overall wood consumption.