Kronospan has started production at a €200m new OSB mill in Rivne, Ukraine.
The investment, which follows an earlier particleboard facility investment at the same location, has the capacity to manufacture 700,000m³ of OSB panels annually. Approximately 60% of these panels will be exported to key markets in the European Union and the USA.
The investment is part of a larger commitment to the Rivne plant, totalling €563m, demonstrating Kronospan’s dedication to expanding manufacturing capabilities and supporting Ukraine’s economic growth.
Yulia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, visited the plant as part of an official recognition of the start of production.“Who invests during a war?” she said. “It’s a question often posed by those who haven’t witnessed Ukraine’s determination to overcome adversity. Companies like Kronospan offer a powerful answer.”
Over the past 20 years, Kronospan has invested nearly €1bn into Ukraine’s wood-processing sector, including the Rivne facility, which now employs 800 specialists. Even amid the war, the company rebuilt a €22m logistics centre and invested €34m in an industrial park, laying the foundation for Ukraine’s first furniture cluster.
“Kronospan’s journey exemplifies how visionary investments contribute to Ukraine’s recovery and long-term growth. By enhancing production capabilities, boosting exports, and generating employment, they are driving economic growth while setting a standard for innovation and determination.”