Arauco invested US$190m to replace the original 450,000m3/year mill completely destroyed in January 2012 with a slightly smaller 350,000m3/year facility mainly supplied by Raute. Plywood output destined for the world’s primary export markets is expected to earn annual sales worth US$100m.
"This mill represents an important source of employment and, with its start up, we expect to continue leading the way in international markets, always accepting the challenge to grow well," commented Santiago-based Arauco’s chief operating officer Cristián Infante at the turn of year mill inauguration.
The mill, rebuilt under Arauco’s ‘Project Phoenix’, will employ a 660-strong workforce.
With the frequency and destruction of fires in Chile on the rise, Arauco group is to invest more than US$21m this year on fire prevention measures.
