ITC’s Paperboards and Specialty Papers Division (ITC-PSPD) will install a new BCTMP line at its Bhadrachalam mill in India, with Valmet as technology partner. The line will produce 350 bone dry tonnes of bleached chemi-thermo mechanical pulp (BCTMP) per day, and start-up is planned for the second quarter of 2028.
The order was reported on October 27, 2026. Valmet included it in its second-quarter 2026 orders received and did not disclose the order value.
What Will Valmet Deliver for ITC’s New BCTMP Line?
Valmet will deliver a complete BCTMP line using its HT-CTMP (high-temperature chemi-thermo mechanical pulping) technology, along with BCTMP evaporation. The package also includes flash drying and baling, a Valmet DNA distributed control system, flow control solutions, an extensive spare parts package and a new white liquor disc filter for the recausticizing line.
Valmet’s first delivery to the Bhadrachalam mill was a multilayer paperboard machine in the 1990s. ITC-PSPD, part of ITC Limited, also operates facilities at Tribeni, Kovai and Bollaram and is headquartered in Hyderabad.
Why Is ITC Investing in High-Quality Pulp Production?
Harinarayanan, Divisional Head of ITC Paperboards and Specialty Papers, said: “we target to produce high quality Pulp with high operational efficiency.” BCTMP is a pulp grade used in paperboard production, and the new line is intended to raise ITC’s output of high-quality pulp at Bhadrachalam.
Senthil Velusamy, Head of Product Sales, Pulp, Energy and Circularity at Valmet, described the HT-CTMP selection as “a natural continuation of this forward-looking approach,” and noted that ITC was the first in India to install a high-power recovery boiler. Mattias Erixon, Director, Biomass Conversion and Mechanical Fiber at Valmet, said the full line, with evaporation and flash drying, “is designed to offer highest pulp quality.”
What Does This Mean for India’s Paper and Board Industry?
The project adds pulp capacity at a time when Indian paper mills face higher input costs for coal, wood and chemicals. Neither ITC nor Valmet has linked the investment to current pricing pressures, and the capital cost of the project has not been disclosed.
Market Reaction and Industry Response
No stock-market reaction, analyst commentary or trade body statement on the order was found at the time of writing.
What Happens Next?
Start-up is planned for Q2 2028, so the line will not affect supply for roughly 18 months. Watch for ITC disclosures on the project’s cost and for further equipment orders linked to the Bhadrachalam expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much pulp will ITC’s new BCTMP line produce?
The line is designed for 350 bone dry tonnes per day.
Who is supplying the technology?
Valmet is supplying the complete BCTMP line, BCTMP evaporation, flash drying and baling, automation and flow control solutions, spare parts and a white liquor disc filter.
When will the new BCTMP line start operating?
Start-up is planned for the second quarter of 2028. The order value has not been disclosed.
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