Smurfit Westrock has confirmed it will permanently cease operations of a paper machine at its La Tuque mill in Quebec, Canada, citing ongoing difficulties with scale and costs.

The unit, which produces 127,000tpa of solid bleached sulfate (SBS), has faced persistent operational challenges.

The company is also set to close its extrusion facility in Pointe-aux-Trembles, where material from the La Tuque machine is processed.

The closures are expected to result in the loss of around 30 jobs at La Tuque and 60 roles at Pointe-aux-Trembles.

Support measures, including career transition support and possible relocation options, will be made available to affected staff.

Severance will be provided according to company policy and union agreements.

The moves come as Smurfit Westrock seeks to focus its SBS operations and maintain competitiveness in its paperboard business.

Smurfit Westrock North America CEO and president Laurent Sellier said: “This was a difficult but necessary decision to align with market realities and strengthen our long-term position. We remain committed to our people, our operations in Canada and to delivering reliable, quality service to our customers. “

The group returned to profit in Q3 2025, posting net income of $245m for the period ending 30 September, a turnaround from a $150m loss reported in the prior year.

Net sales for the quarter reached $8bn, compared with $7.67bn in Q3 2024.

Despite this improvement, the company revised its full-year outlook downward due to scheduled downtime.