UPM Communication Papers is expanding its logistics presence in the United States through a renewed shipping partnership and new port operations.
UPM will continue its long-term freight agreement with Dutch shipping company Spliethoff, maintaining regular shipments from Europe to Jacksonville, Florida. A new port contract with Enstructure, effective this autumn, will additionally enable deliveries to Wilmington, Delaware. “These agreements reflect our strong commitment to the North American market and reinforce our promise to deliver reliable and efficient service to our customers across the region,” says Gunnar Eberhardt, Executive Vice President, UPM Communication Papers.
UPM will renew its long-standing collaboration with Spliethoff, one of Europe’s largest and most experienced shipping companies. For over 25 years, Spliethoff has reliably transported a broad range of UPM business area offerings – including products from UPM Communication Papers, Specialty Papers, Plywood, and Fibres – from Europe to global markets. As in previous years, the majority of shipments to the U.S. are represented by UPM Communication Papers and UPM Specialty Papers.
“We are proud to continue serving UPM, a valued partner with whom we share a quarter-century of trusted cooperation,” says Michael van den Heuvel, Chief Commercial Officer at Spliethoff. He notes that this long-standing collaboration reflects a shared commitment to reliability, innovation, and sustainability in global shipping. Spliethoff’s upcoming Finnish/Swedish Ice Class 1A L-type vessels, entering service in 2028, will further support sustainable operations and improve the efficiency of UPM’s transatlantic logistics.
According to Michael van den Heuvel, “These ships are designed for energy efficiency with slender hull lines and LNG-readiness, and will feature side loaders, and heavy-lift cranes to enable fast, safe, and efficient cargo handling.” Complementing this freight agreement, UPM has signed a new port operations contract with Enstructure, a valued partner at the Talleyrand Marine Terminal in Jacksonville, Florida, and will now extend its services to Port Wilmington, Delaware.
Reflecting on the expanded collaboration, Enstructure Co-CEOs Matthew Satnick and Philippe De Montigny shared: “Enstructure is proud to expand our relationship with UPM into Port Wilmington. UPM has been a trusted partner in Jacksonville for many years, and we appreciate the confidence in our operations. Extending our partnership across our marine terminal network will create meaningful benefits for both organizations.” This strategic expansion enhances UPM’s logistics network by ensuring reliable and optimized geographic scope across key regions of the U.S. and improving responsiveness to market needs.
Supported by UPM’s global supply capabilities and its local operations at the UPM Communication Papers Blandin mill in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, the company continues to ensure dependable deliveries to North American customers. Enstructure has long managed operations at the Port of Jacksonville and, since July 2023, also at Port Wilmington—demonstrating consistent reliability and responsiveness. Jon Vander Wal, General Manager and VP, NA Supply Chain at UPM Communication Papers, highlights the strength of the collaboration: “Enstructure has proven to be a fantastic partner to UPM, providing excellent service while listening closely to our needs.
We’re excited to expand our operations in the mid- Atlantic and are confident that our partnership will ensure a smooth transition to this new facility.” Together with the renewed freight agreement with Spliethoff these partnerships form a robust logistics framework for UPM. Wilmington’s strategic location offers direct access to key markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, complementing Jacksonville’s reach and ensuring comprehensive, efficient coverage across the U.S. These strategic logistics enhancements reaffirm UPM’s dedication to serving its North American customers with greater speed, reliability, and sustainability—ensuring consistent access to high-quality paper products across key U.S. markets.