UPM-Kymmene Oyj

UPM-Kymmene Oyj is a Finland-based bio-based materials and paper manufacturing company headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. Founded in 1996, with annual revenue of €9.66 billion (2025), the company operates 11+ paper mills and 48 production plants across 46+ countries employing 17,000 people. Listed on Nasdaq Helsinki: UPM.

Core Business

UPM is a global leader in bio-based materials, cultural and communication papers, and sustainable packaging solutions. The company's UPM Communication Papers division is one of the world's most comprehensive suppliers of graphic and office papers — from newsprint and magazine coated paper to premium office copy paper. UPM operates 5 world-class pulp mills with 5.8 million tonnes of annual commodity pulp capacity and is pioneering the industry's transition to renewable materials through the Leuna biochemicals refinery in Germany — the world's first industrial-scale wood-based biochemicals facility.

Global Presence

Operating across 46+ countries with 48 production plants, UPM maintains a diversified global manufacturing footprint spanning Finland, Germany, Uruguay, China, and the United States. The company's Paso de los Toros mega-mill in Uruguay represents 2.1 million tonnes of single-site pulp capacity with unmatched cost advantages, while its European mills produce premium communication papers that serve as the substrate of choice for multinational corporations and publishers worldwide.

Key Strengths

UPM's pioneering bio-refining capabilities — exemplified by the Leuna biochemicals plant achieving first commercial deliveries of 100% wood-based biochemicals — position it at the forefront of the industry's sustainability transition. The company earned EcoVadis Platinum rating, placing it in the global top 1% for sustainability performance, a crucial credential for B2B procurement in the ESG era. UPM's Uruguay mega-mill and 5.8 million tonnes of commodity pulp capacity provide unmatched cost advantages against competitors. The planned graphic paper joint venture with Sappi demonstrates strategic foresight in consolidating European cultural paper production to defend against demand decline and import competition. VerityRank Score of 89/100.