Alabama mill to benefit from $250 million expansion investment from International Paper

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August 26, 2025

International Paper is making a major investment in Alabama with plans to spend $250 million at its Riverdale Mill in Selma.

The company will convert the #16 paper machine to produce containerboard, a key material used in corrugated packaging.

The upgrade is part of a broader series of strategic changes announced this week as the company narrows its focus on sustainable packaging solutions.

The Riverdale conversion project is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2026.

While Selma stands to benefit from the new investment, the company also announced the permanent closure of several facilities in Georgia, including mills in Savannah and Riceboro, as well as a Savannah packaging plant and Riceboro timber and lumber operations.

The closures, which are scheduled to be completed by the end of September 2025, will reduce International Paper’s annual containerboard capacity by about one million tons and affect approximately 1,100 jobs across its operations.

International Paper, headquartered in Memphis, operates globally with more than 65,000 employees and facilities in over 30 countries.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].