History

1953

USSR Cabinet Council established a project and general outlay of Kotlass Pulp and Paper Mill’s construction (Arkhangelsk region). The first stage of the mill was started in 1961.

1958

Beginning of Bratsk Pulp and Containerboard Mill’s construction. This mill was designed to be a biggest pulp and paper mill with full conversion of logged wood.

1973

Beginning of Ust-Ilimsk Pulp Mill’s construction. This mill was build in partnership with Bulgaria, Hungary, German Democratic Republic, Poland and Rumania.

1992

Ilim Pulp Enterprise is incorporated in St. Petersburg. Starts out as an exporter of pulp and paper products.

1995

Ilim Pulp acquires a twenty-percent stake in Kotlas Pulp and Paper Mill at a government privatization auction. Soon Ilim Pulp becomes the mill’s largest shareholder and starts acquiring logging businesses to ensure adequate supplies of quality raw materials for Kotlas PPM.

1996

The company opens its first representative office in China in the city of Shenyang, Liaoning province, and delivers its first 50,000 tons of pulp and paper products to the People's Republic.

1997

Ilim Pulp acquires Bratsk Pulp and Containerboard Mill (Irkutsk region).

1998

Renovation of Bratsk Pulp and Containerboard Mill.

1999

Formation of the complex domestic and export markets distribution system.

2000

Change-over of production of bleached pulp in Kotlas to elemental chlorine-free (ECF) technology (for the first time in Russia).

2001

Beginning of modernization of Ilim Pulp forestry sector by application of modern multifunctional logging machines.

2002

Ilim Pulp’s acquisition of Ust-Ilimsk Pulp Mill (Irkutsk region) turns the company into Russia’s largest forest products corporation and boosts its global market standing.

2003

Start of reorganization program — moving from a geography-based management model to management by product lines, and separation of service companies and non-core assets. Approval of a corporate strategy through 2010.

Ilim-Gofropak, a start-up enterprise, is put into operation.

IlimSeverLes is established on the basis of Kotlas PPM logging operations which comprised twelve logging businesses in the Archangelsk Region and Republic of Komi.

Logging enterprise IlimSibLes is established, bringing together structural units that had been part of the Ust-Ilimsk Pulp Mill.

Placement of a first RUR1.5 billion corporate bond issue. Ilim Pulp received the first foreign syndicated loan in the industry, as well as a credit from the World Bank for environmental and infrastructure projects on Kotlas Mill.

2004

Ilim launches Corporate University as a single corporate system to train, educate and develop talented employees. The Archangelsk Region’s Government and Ilim Pulp formally execute a Socio-economic Cooperation Agreement.

2005

The company delivered a record 906,000 tons of pulp and paper to the Chinese market, out-performing all other companies worldwide. Ilim Pulp obtains its first FSC certificate.

Board of Directors adopts the Key Statements on Corporate Ideology (mission, vision, principles) and corporate policies. End of the corporate conflict.

2006

All pulp and paper assets of Ilim Pulp were consolidated in Ilim Holding S. A. Ilim Group was registered in Russia as a subsidiary of Ilim Holding S. A.

The Irkutsk Region’s Government and Ilim Pulp formally execute a Socio-economic Cooperation Agreement. Receivement of the right to mark it’s products in Kotlas with FSC logo.

Signing the letter of intent to establish a joint venture with International Paper.

2007

Beginning of construction of a new corrugated plant in Leningrad region.

Ilim Group started its operations as a united company — 1st of July.

The completion of formation of a JV with International Paper — October the 5th.

2008

The first new corrugated plant in Leningrad Region with capacity of 140 million m2 of corrugated packaging per year is launched — June the 18th.

2009

A state-of-the-art neutral sulfite semi-chemical pulp (NSSC) plant was opened by Ilim Group in Koryazhma, Arkhangelsk Oblast. It is the world’s largest plant manufacturing this product type.