Kemira expands its sodium chlorate production capacity in Joutseno, Finland

Kemira Oyj
Press release
March 29, 2016 at 9.00 am (CET+1)

Kemira will invest approximately EUR 50-60 million in its Joutseno site in Finland to implement its growth strategy. Kemira is planning to build a completely new sodium chlorate production line and cell-room based on Kemira's in-house technology that will significantly increase Joutseno site's current sodium chlorate capacity. The construction is expected to start in June 2016, after fulfillment of certain regulatory requirements. During the construction phase, the indirect employment impact is about 200 persons.

The new chlorate production unit is expected to be in operation during the fourth quarter of 2017. Sodium chlorate is the raw material for chlorine dioxide (ClO2), which is produced on-site at the pulp mills and it is the primary bleaching agent for kraft pulp.

"The consumption of bleaching chemicals is increasing due to the recent pulp mill expansions and the announced greenfield projects in the Nordics. We want to invest in our sodium chlorate capacity to ensure our ability to effectively serve our customers. This investment supports our strategy to grow faster than the market and to strengthen Kemira's position as the leading chemical supplier for the pulp & paper industry", says Kim Poulsen, President, Pulp & Paper segment.

Kemira's Joutseno site is currently employing 67 persons and produces a wide range of chemicals for pulp and paper industry.

For more information, please contact

Kemira Oyj
Antti Matula, Head of Marketing & Product Management
Pulp & Paper segment
Tel. +49 171 196 1641

Tero Huovinen, SVP, Communications and Corporate Responsibility
Tel. +358 10 862 1980

Olli Turunen, VP, Investor Relations
Tel. +358 10 862 1255

Kemira is a global chemicals company serving customers in water-intensive industries. We provide expertise, application know-how and chemicals that improve our customers' water, energy and raw material efficiency. Our focus is on pulp & paper, oil & gas, mining and water treatment. In 2015, Kemira had annual revenue of EUR 2.4 billion and around 4,700 employees. Kemira shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd.
www.kemira.com