Stora Enso Launches Strategic Review of Central European Sawmills and Building Solutions

HELSINKI, Nov. 14, 2025 – Stora Enso (STEAV.HE), a leading provider of renewable products, announced today it is commencing a strategic review of its Central European sawmill and building solutions operations. The review, slated for 2026, will encompass one business unit within its Wood Products division, including seven sawmills located in Austria, Czechia, Poland, and Lithuania. Further processing units, consisting of three cross-laminated-timber (CLT) mills, wood procurement activities, and international sales and distribution channels, will also be assessed.

While these assets hold a significant market position within Central Europe, Stora Enso stated that they lack strategic and operational synergies with its core renewable packaging business. This lack of synergy is the primary driver behind the strategic review, signaling a potential shift in the company’s portfolio.

The strategic review will consider various scenarios, including a potential divestiture of the Central European business. This move aims to sharpen Stora Enso’s strategic focus on renewable materials and packaging solutions, aligning resources with its core growth areas. Operations in Northern Europe, including sawmills and processing operations in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia, are excluded from the review and remain strategically important to the company’s future.

Stora Enso is currently the largest sawn wood producer in Europe and a global leader in sustainable wood-based building solutions. The seven sawmills under review boast a production capacity of approximately 3 million cubic meters, offering a wide range of sawn products and mass timber components. These operations account for approximately 50% of the Wood Products segment’s total sales.

Over the past few years, Stora Enso has invested heavily in developing advanced building solutions, providing innovative concepts, services, and a comprehensive portfolio of products designed to support low-carbon construction. This strategic review suggests the company is prioritizing higher-margin, more synergistic areas within the renewable materials sector.

The company plans to provide an update on the strategic review in 2026. In the interim, operations will continue as usual, with a commitment to supplying high-quality products and services to customers. Any potential changes will be subject to co-determination negotiations and other legal procedures in the affected countries.

This review comes as the construction industry increasingly looks towards sustainable alternatives. CLT, in particular, is gaining traction as a viable substitute for concrete and steel in certain building applications, offering a lower carbon footprint. Stora Enso’s move may indicate a strategic decision to focus on value-added CLT production within its core Northern European operations, potentially streamlining its broader wood products portfolio.

The strategic review of the Central European operations will be closely watched by investors and industry analysts alike, as it provides insights into Stora Enso’s evolving strategy in the face of changing market dynamics and increasing demand for sustainable building materials. The outcome could reshape the competitive landscape of the European wood products industry.