Stora Enso will retain its Central European sawmill and building-solutions business while planning to close a production line in Austria, a move that could affect up to 250 workers pending consultations.
The company said Nov. 10 that the proposed shutdown concerns the small-log line at its Brand sawmill. It aims to close the line by the end of the first quarter of 2027 and says keeping it open would require significant investment.
The possible impact of up to 250 employees applies across the business unit. Stora Enso said it will make no final decision on the closure or employee effects until consultations required by local rules are complete. Brand’s other production line and wood procurement are expected to continue, while other mills will supply customers who use the small-log line.
Stora Enso cited slow market growth and rising costs as reasons for the broader changes, which it said are intended to improve profitability and competitiveness. The company described retaining the business as the best solution for its customers, employees, shareholders and the business itself.
Stora Enso announced the review on Nov. 14, 2025, saying it would be carried out in 2026 and could include a sale. The assessment covered the business’s international sales and distribution, wood procurement, three cross-laminated timber (CLT) mills and seven sawmills across Austria, Czechia, Poland and Lithuania. At the time, the seven sawmills had capacity of about three million cubic meters, and the business accounted for about half of Wood Products segment sales, the company said.
