Smurfit Kappa begins construction of Moroccan packaging plant

Packaging company Smurfit Kappa has begun construction of a new €35.0m packaging plant in Morocco, its first corrugated plant in the country.

Smurfit Kappa said on Wednesday that the new plant, located in Rabat and covering an area of 25,000 square miles, will enable it to supply "innovative and sustainable packaging solutions" to its local customer base by creating packaging for the industrial, agriculture, FMCG, automotive, pharmaceutical and ceramics sectors.

The FTSE 100-listed firm added that construction of the state-of-the-art plant had begun earlier in the week and highlighted that the site was expected to be operational in early 2023.

Saverio Mayer, chief executive of Smurfit Kappa Europe, said: "We are very proud to announce the construction of this advanced new facility, the first of its kind owned by the company in Morocco. It will be located in an area with significant growth potential and create 300 direct and indirect jobs in the region.

"Our customers will also benefit from our fully integrated and circular business model which will ensure a reliable supply of quality, value-adding, and sustainable products."

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com