Palm anchors Iberian expansion with new Bilbao sales operation

Strategic commercial expansion in Southern Europe

The European paper and packaging landscape continues to consolidate its regional networks. In a calculated move to strengthen its direct market access, the Palm Group has officially launched Palm Paper Iberia SL. Operating out of Bilbao, Spain, since June 2026, this new sales office is designed to centralize and drive the company's commercial activities across the Iberian Peninsula, focusing heavily on its core products: corrugated base paper and newsprint manufactured from 100% recovered fibre.

For decades, Palm has maintained a robust manufacturing footprint in Central Europe and the UK. However, the establishment of a dedicated sales hub in the Basque Country signals a clear intent to capture a larger share of the Spanish and Portuguese markets. These regions are critical growth areas for agricultural and industrial packaging, demanding high volumes of reliable, recycled corrugated materials.

Building on the 2025 acquisitions

To understand the significance of Palm Paper Iberia SL, one must look at the groundwork laid in the previous year. In mid-2025, Palm successfully completed the acquisition of five corrugated board plants from International Paper. Crucially, one of these facilities was located in Arrigorriaga, Vizcaya, now operating as Palm Packaging Bilbao S.L.U. By placing its new commercial headquarters in the same strategic logistics node, Palm is effectively aligning its production capabilities with a localized, aggressive sales strategy.

This vertical integration allows the company to offer a seamless supply chain to Iberian converters and printers. Customers in Spain and Portugal now have direct access to Palm's extensive network, which includes 5 paper mills and 33 corrugated board plants across Europe, bypassing third-party distributors and ensuring tighter quality and delivery controls.

A broader shift toward corrugated materials

The opening of the Bilbao office coincides with a massive structural shift within the Palm Group. While the company remains a leading manufacturer of newsprint, the structural decline in graphic papers has prompted heavy investments in packaging grades. A prime example is the ongoing €200 million investment announced in 2026 to convert the PM 7 at its King's Lynn facility in the UK from newsprint to corrugated case material.

As this new capacity comes online, Palm will need robust sales channels to absorb the increased tonnage of recycled corrugated base paper. The Iberian market, with its strong export-driven agricultural sector and booming e-commerce logistics network, presents the perfect destination for this material. Palm Paper Iberia SL will be instrumental in securing long-term contracts for this upcoming capacity.

• Location: Bilbao, Spain (covering Spain and Portugal).
• Core Focus: 100% recovered fibre corrugated base paper and newsprint.
• Strategic Alignment: Synergizes with the 2025 acquisition of the nearby Palm Packaging Bilbao plant.

The establishment of Palm Paper Iberia SL is a textbook example of smart, localized commercial expansion following strategic industrial acquisitions. By putting boots on the ground in Bilbao, Palm not only secures its existing customer base but positions itself perfectly to distribute the massive new corrugated capacities coming from its northern mills. Will other Central European paper giants follow suit and establish direct commercial beachheads in the highly competitive Iberian market? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai