A NEW contract has been hailed as great news for the port of Tilbury.

SCA, Europe's largest private forest owner and producer of wood products, packaging paper, pulp and renewable energy, will return on a long-term deal to the UK Paper Hub located at the port, which has its own berths.

The 50-acre facility will become SCA's primary UK logistics hub for the import of packaging materials to supply their UK customers.

Commenting on the new contract. The port's asset and site director Paul Dale, said: "This is exciting news for the UK Paper Hub as we secure another market leader in the paper, packaging and forest products market. We warmly welcome SCA back to Tilbury and look forward to working collaboratively to ensure a world class, flexible, end to end service for their UK customers.

"As the paper and forest product port for the future, we are focusing on making a real contribution to the environment and net zero targets by reducing all forms of waste within the paper and forest products supply chain. Through our location and connections, we offer unrivalled opportunities at our all-in-one facility."

Steve Harley, Managing Director for SCA UK Logistics added: "2022 will mark our return to the Port of Tilbury. The move renews a long-standing relationship between SCA and Forth Ports which spans half a century.

"Ensuring that the logistics chain is as efficient as possible is our utmost concern and our Tilbury operation will align our shipping, warehousing and distribution activities with our customers' geographical spread and service requirements. We look forward to a productive cooperation with the Forth Ports team."

UK Paper Hub is the collective brand covering Tilbury's handling, storage and distribution services for paper and related forest products (including graphical papers and newsprint, packaging paper and board, tissue and hygiene products, and pulp).

The brand brings together the expertise and facilities of the paper handling terminals, previously known as Enterprise Distribution Centre (EDC) and London Paper Terminal (LPT), which the port owns and operates.