Stora Enso plans to close CLT production at Gruvön in Sweden

Stora Enso will begin change negotiations at its Gruvön sawmill in Sweden over plans to focus on sawn and planed timber and discontinue cross-laminated timber (CLT) production by the end of 2026. The proposed closure would affect up to 80 positions.

The negotiations cover approximately 220 employees at Gruvön, including the Nordic CLT sales organisation. No decisions on the closure or its impact on employees will be made before the negotiations have concluded.

According to Stora Enso, CLT operations at Gruvön have faced slower-than-expected market growth in recent years. Rising wood costs and the relatively high fixed costs of CLT production have further weighed on profitability.

“Due to subdued market conditions, the prospects for sustainable profitability in CLT production in Gruvön have been too limited despite the excellent efforts made by our employees,” says Jonas Lindqvist, Head of Business Unit Skoghall at Stora Enso.

Lindqvist says the proposed change would allow the company to further develop sawn and planed timber production at Gruvön. Stora Enso says it will support employees throughout the process.

No impact expected on wood consumption

Sawn timber deliveries from Gruvön will continue as usual. According to Stora Enso, the proposed CLT closure would not affect Business Unit Skoghall’s wood consumption.

If the plan goes ahead, Stora Enso would continue supplying Nordic customers with CLT from its three other production units: Ždírec in the Czech Republic, and Ybbs and Bad St. Leonhard in Austria.

Gruvön mill produces sawn timber, processed timber, pellets and made-to-order products for construction.