Mondi, a leading global packaging and paper manufacturer, will open its new state-of-the-art paper bags plant in Cartagena, Colombia in January 2021. It will be Mondi’s first operation in South America, reinforcing the group’s strength as a global paper bags supplier with a wide local footprint. The new plant will enable Mondi to improve and grow its services to better serve customers in the region.

South America is home to more than 250 cement plants requiring up to two billion cement bags per year. Cartagena is a strong location for the new plant, set up in a free-trade zone with good access to ports in Panama, the east coast of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico and other Caribbean ports.

“Our global network already includes 39 plants across 22 countries. We are excited to be expanding our footprint to Colombia, helping us to provide innovative, sustainable and customer-focused paper packaging solutions to customers in South America who share our commitment to quality,” says Claudio Fedalto, chief operating officer paper bags, Mondi.

Mondi Cartagena will start producing its range of high performing paper bags in January 2021. Customers in the chemical, food and cement industries will benefit from a broad portfolio of paper bags, optimized on-site to meet individual customer requirements. The plant is set up to start with one production line with a capacity of approximately 50 million bags per year. The plant will also offer a number of local employment opportunities in the Cartagena area.

“I am delighted with the remarkable progress our new plant has made – despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. The new facility will enable Mondi to continue to take essential steps to better meet customer needs and we are prepared to expand the production capacity if needed,” added Felipe Angel, Mondi Cartagena’s plant manager.