Several market experts expect prices for recovered paper to become dearer again in April.
Prices for most recovered paper grades have slightly increased on the German market in March. Only one grade has seen a renewed drop in prices, according to EUWID market report for Germany.
All in all, recovered paper consumers were still ordering large amounts. Paper mills had filled up their warehouses before Easter, insiders said. Stoppages for maintenance that a few mills held had reportedly not led to recovered paper merchants building up inventories.
Based on developments on the domestic market and a better export business, several market observers pointed to a clear trend towards higher recovered paper prices in spring. Other EUWID respondents, however, do not believe in large price hikes for recovered paper in April. Recycled containerboard prices have declined since the start of the year due to high inventory levels at paper mills and there is reason to believe that prices will continue on a downward path after the Easter holidays as paper manufacturers were not planning to take downtime and match supply to demand, they said.
