UPM Communication Papers
UPM Communication Papers is a division of UPM-Kymmene Corporation that manufactures graphic papers (magazine, newsprint, book, fine, and office papers) at 8 paper mills across Europe and North America, serving publishers, printers, merchants, and converters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1872
- HeadquartersAugsburg, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What UPM Communication Papers does
UPM Communication Papers is a business area of UPM-Kymmene Corporation, a Finnish publicly listed conglomerate, focused on the manufacture and sale of graphic papers. It produces offset, digital printing, graphic, and postal papers — including magazine papers, newsprint, book paper, fine papers, and office papers — from wood fibres sourced under FSC and PEFC chain-of-custody certified supply chains. The unit operates 8 paper mills across Europe and North America with 3.7 million tonnes of annual production capacity, including integrated pulp-paper-energy sites such as Kuusankoski (715,000 tonnes/year) and Rauma (645,000 tonnes/year). Its Augsburg mill, founded in 1849, is the oldest in the network; UPM Augsburg produces up to 350,000 tonnes/year of coated web offset (LWC) paper annually for magazines, inserts, and advertising brochures. The business area was renamed from "UPM Graphic Papers" to "UPM Communication Papers" in 2018 to emphasize continued commitment to global graphic papers.
The company serves four primary business-unit segments: Publishing Industry (magazines, newspapers, catalogues, books), Merchants & Office (distributors, retailers, corporate purchasers), Printing Industry (commercial printers using heatset, coldset, rotogravure, and digital presses), and Paper Converters (envelope and packaging producers). Revenue is generated primarily through direct sales of paper on a quote-based, non-publicly-disclosed pricing model, complemented by professional services revenue from NorService paper finishing/conversion (Dörpen, Germany) and three-tier Technical Printability testing services. Go-to-market is sales-led via regional sales offices across Europe and North America, augmented by the Customer Online (COL) digital portal with SAP-integrated eOrder for 24/7 self-service ordering, claims, and sample requests. In May 2026 UPM signed a binding joint venture agreement with Sappi to combine their European graphic papers businesses, consolidating capacity in a structurally contracting print-media market.
UPM Communication Papers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UPM Communication Papers
- Legal name
- UPM-Kymmene Corporation
- Website
- https://upmpaper.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1872
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- UPM Communication Papers is a division of UPM-Kymmene Corporation that manufactures graphic papers (magazine, newsprint, book, fine, and office papers) at 8 paper mills across Europe and North America, serving publishers, printers, merchants, and converters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UPM Communication Papers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Graphic Papers (Printing & Writing Papers)
- NAICS
- Paper Mills (32212), Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills (3221), Paper Manufacturing (322)
- SIC
- Paper Mills (2621), Papers & Allied Products (2600), Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods (No Contaners/Boxes) (2670)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Printing & Writing Paper Manufacturing (IMAMAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Specialty Paper Manufacturing (Coated, Release, Thermal, Filter, Security) (IMAMAEAC), Paper Converting Services (slitting, sheeting, coating, laminating, rewinding) (IMAMAHAJ), Paper Converting (Cut-Size, Reams, Sheets, Rolls for Printing/Writing) (IMAMAEAJ)
Keywords
Where UPM Communication Papers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Augsburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
UPM Communication Papers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Graphic Paper Sales: Sale of graphic papers including magazine papers, newsprint, book paper, and fine papers. Revenue generated through direct sales and digital ordering platforms with transaction-based pricing.
- Paper Finishing Services (NorService): Conversion and packaging services for paper products including custom cutting, repacking, and specialized packaging solutions.
- Technical Services: Printability testing and analysis services for paper customers to optimize paper selection for their printing processes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Technical Printability Testing Services |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
UPM Communication Papers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UPM Communication Papers manufactures and supplies a broad portfolio of graphic papers — including coated and uncoated magazine papers (LWC/MWC), newsprint, book papers, fine papers, and office/specialty papers — from 8 paper mills in Europe and North America with combined annual capacity of approximately 3.7 million tonnes. The division complements its paper offering with paper-finishing and conversion services (NorService), a digital ordering and customer-service platform (Customer Online / eOrder), and technical printability testing services for printers and publishers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Magazine Papers (LWC / MWC)
- Newsprint
- Book Papers
- Fine Papers / Office Papers
- Specialty Papers
- UPM NorService (Paper Finishing & Conversion)
- UPM Customer Online (eOrder Digital Portal)
- Technical Printability Testing Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 70%+ reduction in Scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions per tonne by 2030
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use UPM Communication Papers
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
UPM Communication Papers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
UPM Communication Papers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- SappicoreUPM and Sappi have signed a binding agreement for a Joint Venture in the graphic papers business. This strategic partnership combines UPM's graphic papers operations with Sappi's European graphic papers business, creating a stronger player in the European graphic papers market.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UPM Communication Papers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Burgo Group: Burgo Group is an Italian-based European producer of coated and uncoated woodfree graphic papers, with a similar customer base to UPM Communication Papers in publishing and printing.
- Arctic Paper: Arctic Paper is a European producer of high-quality graphic paper for book publishers, magazines and premium printing, directly comparable to UPM's fine and book paper grades.
- Heinzel Group: Heinzel Group operates paper mills in Europe producing market pulp and graphic papers (incl. Laakirchen, Steyrermühl), directly competing with UPM in coated mechanical and uncoated graphic paper.
- Mondi: Mondi is a global packaging and paper group with significant European uncoated fine paper and graphic paper operations, directly competing with UPM in office and publication paper segments.
- Lecta: Lecta is a European manufacturer of specialty papers for labels, publishing and commercial printing, overlapping with UPM's specialty and graphic paper portfolio.
- Stora Enso: Stora Enso is a major European forest products company producing printing papers, packaging materials and biomaterials. It directly overlaps with UPM Communication Papers in graphic and publication paper grades across Europe.
- Norske Skog: Norske Skog is a leading European and Australasian producer of newsprint and magazine paper, directly competing with UPM in publication paper grades.
- Sappi: Sappi is one of the largest global producers of coated woodfree, coated mechanical and uncoated graphic papers. UPM and Sappi have signed a binding JV in their European graphic papers businesses, making them the closest direct comparable.
Broad incumbents
- Smurfit Westrock: Smurfit Westrock is a global paper and packaging giant with uncoated and coated paper operations that overlap with UPM in publication and printing paper grades as part of a broader portfolio.
- International Paper: International Paper is one of the world's largest pulp and paper companies with significant uncoated freesheet and printing paper operations, overlapping with UPM at a global, broader-portfolio level.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
UPM Communication Papers social profiles
Digital presenceUPM Communication Papers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UPM Communication Papers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
UPM Communication Papers subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
UPM Communication Papers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UPM Communication Papers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UPM Communication Papers
What does UPM Communication Papers do?
UPM Communication Papers manufactures and supplies a broad portfolio of graphic papers — including coated and uncoated magazine papers (LWC/MWC), newsprint, book papers, fine papers, and office/specialty papers — from 8 paper mills in Europe and North America with combined annual capacity of approximately 3.7 million tonnes. The division complements its paper offering with paper-finishing and conversion services (NorService), a digital ordering and customer-service platform (Customer Online / eOrder), and technical printability testing services for printers and publishers.
Is UPM Communication Papers a public or private company?
UPM Communication Papers is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was UPM Communication Papers founded?
UPM Communication Papers was founded in 1872. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is UPM Communication Papers based?
UPM Communication Papers is headquartered in Augsburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does UPM Communication Papers make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Graphic Paper Sales are the primary driver. The others are paper Finishing Services (NorService) and technical Services.
Who are UPM Communication Papers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Burgo Group, Arctic Paper, Heinzel Group, Mondi, Lecta, Stora Enso, Norske Skog and Sappi. Broad incumbents are Smurfit Westrock and International Paper.
Does UPM Communication Papers have an API?
No public API is recorded for UPM Communication Papers.
What industry is UPM Communication Papers in?
UPM Communication Papers's product category is Graphic Papers (Printing & Writing Papers). Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAEAA, Printing & Writing Paper Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMAMAEAC, Specialty Paper Manufacturing (Coated, Release, Thermal, Filter, Security). Its NAICS code is 32212 and its SIC code is 2621.