28 July 2026: Jo Francis of PrintWeek has reported that UPM plans to step in to offer UK-made newsprint from its Caledonian mill in Scotland, following the announcement that Palm is to withdraw from making printing grades and will transform its machine in King’s Lynn to lightweight corrugating products.

UPM Caledonian is located in Irvine, North Ayrshire, and its one machine makes LWC magazine papers, capacity 235,000tpy. By adding newsprint, the site will expand its product range and fill this new gap in the market that is about to open up following Palm’s decision.

In Jo’s article it is reported that a UPM spokesperson told Printweek: “UPM has recently developed Standard Newsprint in 40gsm and 42.5gsm at its Caledonian mill, providing a UK domestic supply option alongside UPM News production in Finland and Germany. Supply is currently focused on coldset web offset printing, with development trials progressing for customers requiring an option in heatset web offset.”

Dave Kirwan, production director at Guardian News & Media, confirmed to PrintWeek that the media group had run trials with this new product.

Separately, EMGE in a recent newsletter reported that “Newsprint demand in the UK in 2025 was down to 340,000t (including Improved News) and is probably on course to fall below 300,000t this year (2026 ytd: -13%)”. This adds further to the reason why Palm will have decided to withdraw from newsprint production, and how a relatively small mill such as Caledonian has the potential to make quite a significant impact in a shrinking market.