You've probably seen the massive plumes of steam rising over the Savannah River if you've ever driven across the Houlihan Bridge. That's the International Paper Port Wentworth mill. It's a landmark. For decades, it’s been the industrial heartbeat of that corner of Georgia, sitting right on the edge of the Port of Savannah. But lately, people are asking questions. Is it still running? What do they actually make there now? Honestly, the story of this specific mill is a perfect case study in how global supply chains and local labor forces collide in the 21st century.
It’s big.
The facility is officially known as the Savannah Mill, though most locals and logistics pros just call it International Paper Port Wentworth GA. It’s not just a factory; it’s a massive economic engine that has survived market crashes, ownership changes, and the total transformation of the paper industry. If you think paper mills are dying relics, you haven't looked at the demand for fluff pulp or containerboard lately.
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The Reality of the Port Wentworth Operation
Let’s get the facts straight. The Port Wentworth mill is one of International Paper’s most strategic assets because of its geography. You can’t talk about this mill without talking about the Port of Savannah—the fastest-growing container terminal in the U.S. Having a mill literally minutes away from the Garden City Terminal is a logistical dream. It means they can manufacture product and have it on a ship heading to Europe or Asia before the ink is even dry on the manifest.
For a long time, the mill was known for producing fluff pulp. If you’ve ever used a diaper or a feminine hygiene product, there’s a statistically high chance the absorbent material inside came from right here in Georgia. They use loblolly pine, which is everywhere in the Southeast, to create that soft, absorbent fiber. However, the market shifted.
A few years ago, the mill underwent a massive conversion. International Paper spent a fortune—hundreds of millions—to pivot. They shifted a significant portion of the production toward linerboard. That’s the brown paper that makes up the outer layers of corrugated cardboard boxes. Think about your Amazon deliveries. Every single one of those boxes represents the kind of demand that keeps the Port Wentworth facility humming.
It was a smart move. While office paper demand plummeted because everyone is digital now, the "Amazon effect" created an insatiable hunger for packaging.
Why the Location Matters So Much
The "Port" in Port Wentworth isn't just a name. It’s the identity. The mill sits at a nexus of rail lines (CSX and Norfolk Southern) and deep-water access. This allows for a "pit-to-port" efficiency that few other mills in the world can match.
But there’s a human side to this.
The mill employs hundreds of people. These aren't just jobs; they are high-paying, multi-generational careers. You’ll meet guys on the floor whose grandfathers worked the same machines when the mill was owned by Union Camp or Weyerhaeuser. When International Paper (IP) took over the fluff pulp business from Weyerhaeuser in 2016 in a $2.2 billion deal, it changed the stakes for Port Wentworth. It integrated the mill into the world's largest pulp and paper company.
Environmental Friction and the Savannah River
You can't operate a giant industrial site in 2026 without some friction. The Savannah River is a sensitive ecosystem. Over the years, the mill has had to navigate complex EPD (Environmental Protection Division) permits.
Odors are a thing. If you live in Garden City or North Savannah, you know the smell. It’s that heavy, sulfurous scent that locals often joke is the "smell of money." But the Georgia EPD and the EPA have tightened the screws. IP has had to invest heavily in "scrubbers" and water treatment facilities to ensure that what goes back into the river—and the air—meets modern standards.
There’s a tension there. The city wants the tax revenue and the jobs, but the growing tourism industry in Savannah wants a clean, odorless gateway to the city. It's a balancing act that never really ends.
The 2023-2024 Transition: A Rough Patch?
Every big mill has its "dark" periods. You might remember hearing rumors about layoffs or temporary shutdowns. In late 2023, International Paper announced they were permanently closing some mills (like the one in Orange, Texas) and cutting back on fluff pulp production elsewhere.
Port Wentworth felt the tremors.
The company began a massive corporate restructuring to "optimize the system." For the folks on the ground in Georgia, this meant a laser focus on cost-cutting. They didn't close the mill—it's too valuable—but they did change how it operates. They moved toward a more flexible production model. Basically, they can now toggle between different types of pulp or paper based on what the global market is paying for that month.
It’s about survival. You adapt or you end up like the abandoned mills in the Rust Belt.
What They Actually Produce Today
If you walked into the mill today, you wouldn't see people making "paper" in the way you're thinking. It’s not printer paper. It’s mostly two things:
- Linerboard: The muscle of the shipping industry. It’s heavy-duty, durable, and designed to be glued to corrugated medium to make boxes.
- Specialty Pulp: This is the high-end stuff. It’s used in everything from LCD screens to food thickeners and, yes, still some absorbent hygiene products.
The sheer scale of the machinery is hard to wrap your head around. We're talking about paper machines that are longer than a football field and several stories high. They run 24/7, 365 days a year. Stopping a paper machine is a nightmare—it takes hours to get it back up to temperature and speed, so they just don't stop unless there's a scheduled maintenance "outage."
Common Misconceptions About the Mill
Kinda funny, but a lot of people think the mill is just burning wood for the sake of it. In reality, the International Paper Port Wentworth GA facility is actually a major producer of renewable energy.
They use something called "black liquor."
It sounds gross, but it’s basically a byproduct of the pulping process. They burn it in recovery boilers to create steam and electricity. Most of the time, the mill is largely self-sufficient when it comes to power. They are taking the "waste" from the wood and turning it into the energy needed to run the saws and rollers. It’s a circular economy before that was even a buzzword.
Another myth? That the mill is "automated" to the point of not needing people. While they use advanced sensors and AI-driven monitoring to check for paper breaks or thickness inconsistencies, you still need skilled millwrights, chemists, and engineers. You can't automate the "feel" of a high-pressure boiler or the intuition required when a massive roll of linerboard goes off-kilter.
The Economic Impact You Don't See
The mill pays millions in property taxes to Chatham County. That money funds schools in areas that really need it. Beyond the direct employees, there’s an entire ecosystem of contractors.
- Loggers: Thousands of acres of Georgia timberland are managed specifically to feed this mill.
- Trucking: Go sit at a gas station in Port Wentworth for ten minutes. You’ll see a dozen "log woods" trucks heading into the gates.
- Maintenance: Local welding shops and electrical contractors basically live at the mill during "outage" season.
When the mill is doing well, Port Wentworth is doing well. When there are rumors of a slowdown, the local diners feel it immediately.
Looking Ahead: The Future of IP in Georgia
Is the mill safe? In the world of global manufacturing, nothing is 100% "safe." But the Port Wentworth mill has three things going for it that keep it off the chopping block:
First, the proximity to the Port of Savannah is an unbeatable competitive advantage. Second, the Southeast U.S. is the "woodbasket" of the world; the trees grow faster here than almost anywhere else. Third, International Paper has already spent the capital to modernize the facility. You don't sink $300 million into a mill just to walk away from it three years later.
However, we are seeing a shift toward "sustainability" requirements from big buyers like P&G or Unilever. They want to know exactly which forest the fiber came from. This means the Port Wentworth facility is becoming more of a high-tech data hub, tracking the "chain of custody" for every ton of pulp that leaves the dock.
Actionable Insights for Stakeholders
If you're looking at the International Paper Port Wentworth GA mill from a business or community perspective, here’s what you need to keep in mind for the coming year.
For Logistics and Supply Chain Managers:
Don't assume capacity is always available. The mill has shifted its product mix significantly. If you are sourcing linerboard, you need to be aware of their maintenance schedules, which usually happen in the spring or fall. These outages can tighten the local supply of corrugated materials for weeks.
For Local Job Seekers:
The "old school" paper mill job is gone. They are looking for people with mechatronics backgrounds or industrial electrical certifications. If you want to work at IP, don't just show up with a strong back; show up with a technical degree from a school like Savannah Tech. They value safety certifications (like OSHA 30) more than almost anything else during the hiring process.
For Real Estate Investors:
Port Wentworth is growing, but the mill’s footprint and its environmental buffer zones are fixed. Keep an eye on the zoning changes around Highway 21. As the port expands, the land value near the IP mill is skyrocketing, not necessarily for housing, but for "last-mile" warehouse space that can process the paper products coming off the line.
For Environmental Advocates:
Monitor the Title V air permits. These are public records. If you want to know what the mill is actually emitting, you can check the Georgia EPD’s online portal. The mill is under constant pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, and public engagement in the permitting process is the most effective way to ensure they stay on track with their sustainability goals.
The Port Wentworth mill isn't just a relic of Georgia’s industrial past. It’s a pivot point for the global packaging economy. As long as we keep ordering things in cardboard boxes and using absorbent hygiene products, those steam plumes over the Savannah River aren't going anywhere. It’s a messy, loud, vital part of the Georgia coast that basically keeps the world’s shipping containers full.