CONCORD, N.H. – Pulp and Paper of America will shut down its Berlin pulp mill for two weeks to save money during an industry slowdown, a company spokesman said Monday.

“We have advised the union that we plan to shut the pulp mill down for about two weeks, at end of this week,” said Kurt Goldschmidt, a spokesman for the mill’s parent company, American Tissue Inc. of Hauppauge, N.Y.

Goldschmidt said the decision to temporarily close the mill was based on a drop in demand for pulp, not on the company’s financial troubles. Pulp and Paper owes both Berlin and Gorham millions of dollars in property taxes on its mills, has missed several arranged payments and nearly had its water shut off last week over another unpaid bill. The company’s paper mill in neighboring Gorham will remain open.

“We cannot control the market,” Goldschmidt said. “The paper industry has always been cyclical, and this is a bad cycle. … There’s nothing else to do with the pulp right now except put it in inventory.”

In June, American Tissue announced a financial restructuring plan, but on Friday announced it is now pursuing “other financing options at attractive pricing.” The announcement prompted the Standard and Poor’s bond rating agency to cut its rating for American Tissue, and added to growing alarm over the mills’ future.

Goldschmidt would not comment on the refinancing efforts, but sought to reassure workers about the shutdown.

“We have never since we bought this mill laid anyone off,” he said. “I hope people can take a vacation during what is considered a temporary outage.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Jeanne Shaheen will meet with American Tissue officials in Manhattan on Tuesday to discuss the refinancing and offer assistance. Berlin officials also have been invited, along with George Bald, state commissioner of resources and economic development.

“I’m very concerned,” Shaheen said Monday from Providence, R.I., where she is attending the National Governors Association meeting. “It’s important for us to talk directly, face-to-face.”