NORPAC to phase out newsprint production at Longview mill

North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC) is set to discontinue newsprint production at its Longview mill in Washington State, with the phase-out scheduled to take effect from May 1. The decision marks a significant shift for the company, whose operations were historically centred on the production of high-quality newsprint. According to industry sources, NORPAC will transition its production towards recycled packaging-grade paper.

The change reflects broader market dynamics, including declining demand for newsprint and reduced availability of suitable fibre, which have increasingly affected the economic viability of this product segment.

Based on available industry data, NORPAC is among the largest consumers of recovered paper in North America, processing approximately 575,000 tonnes annually. The Longview site, located at 3401 Industrial Way, Longview, WA 98632, USA, employs around 450 people and operates as a single-mill facility.

Recent updates to the company’s product portfolio also indicate the strategic shift, with newsprint no longer listed among its core products. The move aligns with ongoing transformations across the paper industry, where producers are increasingly reallocating capacity from traditional graphic grades to packaging papers, driven by evolving demand patterns and growth in e-commerce and sustainable packaging solutions.