Lumin Plywood Mill in Uruguay Nears Completion

Lumin’s new plywood mill project in Melo, Cerro Largo, Uruguay is progressing, with process lines being commissioned in Q1, Timber Trades Journal reported (3-18-26). The $136 million facility will have a production capacity of 164,000 m³.

Site work began in April 2024, followed by the arrival of machinery from Finland in October 2024, and mechanical assembly in April 2025. Commissioning of the steam generator, medium-voltage equipment, and UTE systems began in November 2025, with process line commissioning continuing through February and March ahead of a planned startup in July.

Lumin currently produces approximately 304,000 m³ of plywood annually at its two plants in Tacuarembó. The new mill is expected to position Uruguay as the second-largest plywood producer in Latin America.

Raute Corporation has been contracted to deliver €49.6 million in mill technology, including log handling, veneer production and drying, composing lines, lay-up and pressing lines, and panel repairing and sawing lines, along with a long-term service agreement.