International Paper Closes Mill MOSS POINT, Miss.—International Paper's Moss Point Bleached Board Mill will indefinitely close by the end of the second quarter of 2001 due to high costs and the need to align production with its customer demand, according to PRNewswire. The mill, which employs 375 people, was constructed in 1912 and acquired by International Paper in 1928. It has one paper machine that can produce nearly 200,000 tons of Bleached Board and Bristols paper each year for products such as greeting cards; paperback book covers; and cartons for frozen foods, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. ``We sincerely regret the effect this decision will have on the employees, their families and the surrounding communities,'' said Ed Locke, mill manager. ``Due to economies of scale and age, the mill is a high cost facility. Considerable effort has been exerted in the recent past to reduce costs, but we are not able to lower them significantly enough to be competitive in today's market.'' International Paper is the world's largest paper and forest products company. Businesses include paper, packaging, and forest products. Headquartered in the United States, International Paper has operations in nearly 50 countries, employs more than 113,000 people and exports its products to more than 130 nations.