Valmet secures 100 million euro pulp technology order for Century Sunshine

Major Chemical Pulping Investment in Shandong

Valmet has confirmed a major technology supply contract exceeding €100 million for Century Sunshine's new pulp mill located in Rizhao, Shandong province. Booked in the second quarter of 2026, the order underscores the continuous modernization and capacity expansion of the Chinese pulp and paper sector, driven by aggressive domestic market integration strategies. The greenfield mill is scheduled to commence operations in June 2028.

The facility is designed to process multiple grades, with an annual capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of hardwood or softwood pulp alongside a dedicated 400,000 tonnes of softwood pulp. This configuration gives Century Sunshine the flexibility to alternate production according to market demand, covering standard papermaking fibers as well as specialized applications like fluff and dissolving pulp.

Comprehensive Process Delivery and Localization

The scope of Valmet's delivery encompasses the core of the chemical pulping process. The package includes two parallel cooking and fiberlines, an advanced evaporation plant, a high-capacity recovery boiler equipped with combustion optimizers, ash treatment systems, and a complete white liquor plant featuring recausticizing operations and lime kilns.

A notable aspect of this contract is Valmet's increasing reliance on its domestic supply chain within China. To optimize project costs and lead times, a significant portion of the equipment, particularly the evaporation plant components, will be manufactured locally. This localization strategy combined with Valmet's automation platforms is expected to guarantee efficient execution while reducing logistical bottlenecks.

The Strategic Role of the 'Paper-for-Plastic' Initiative

For Century Sunshine Paper Group, a major player headquartered in Weifang and listed in Hong Kong, the Rizhao mill is the cornerstone of its "Paper-for-Plastic" program. This three-phase strategic initiative aims to bring 2.65 million tonnes of annual new paper production to the market, capitalizing on global and domestic regulatory pressures to replace single-use plastics with advanced paper-based alternatives.

By investing heavily in upstream pulp production, Century Sunshine is actively securing its raw material supply chain. The integration allows the group to control fiber quality and costs directly, shielding its downstream packaging operations—which include white top linerboard, coated kraft, and specialized corrugated products—from the volatility of the global market. The Rizhao project effectively consolidates the company's position as a fully integrated supplier capable of meeting the stringent requirements of modern sustainable packaging.