WestRock Company will permanently cease operations at its mill in Panama City, Florida, by June 6, 2022. The mill produces containerboard, primarily heavyweight kraft, and fluff pulp, with a combined annual capacity of 645,000 tons. Select grades of containerboard currently produced at the mill will be manufactured at other WestRock facilities.
WestRock is committed to improving its return on invested capital as well as maximizing the performance of its assets, and the Panama City mill would require significant capital investment to maintain and improve going forward. In addition, production of fluff pulp is not a priority in the company’s strategy to focus on higher value markets. By closing this mill, significant capital that would be required to keep the mill competitive in the future will be deployed to improve other key assets.
The Panama City mill employs approximately 450 people. Employees of the Panama City mill will receive severance and outplacement assistance in accordance with Company policy and labor union agreements.
WestRock Company is a global manufacturer of differentiated paper and packaging solutions.
