<B>Downtime at IP Mill Scheduled</B>

International Paper announced that it is idling its Vicksburg, Miss., mill the end of this month. It will be the fourth time the mill has taken downtime this year, each time to adjust inventory levels.. The mill is located in West Central Mississippi, along the Mississippi River.

The linerboard mill will close from Dec. 23 and is expected to reopen Jan. 2. According to a spokesman for the mill, the company is taking the downtime for inventory adjustment purposes. The company cited an oversupply of kraft linerboard on the market as the main reason for the shutdown. The mill consumes old corrugated containers, double lined kraft cuttings and various other types of recovered fiber for its furnish.

The inventory adjustment continues sizable shutdowns taking place at board mills throughout the country.