FRANCE — Fibre Excellence is facing severe financing problems in France. According to Euwid, the company may soon have to idle two pulp mills in the country, Saint Gaudens and Provence. Fibre Excellence says that it is doing everything possible to avoid insolvency and to preserve the sites and jobs. The reason to this is the weakness the pulp market and high costs. From October 17 to November 24, 2025, production was suspended at the Saint Gaudens pulp mill, as a preventive measure in response to the downturn in the European pulp market. This shutdown enabled operations to resume under favorable conditions. A partial activity plan was then put in place for the site’s 271 employees in order to minimize the impact of this suspension. According to Paper Excellence, the pulp market is experiencing a marked slowdown, particularly in Asia, which is reducing demand and putting pressure on prices.