Mark-ups for recycled containerboard in the UK pushed back into October

The final outcome of price negotiations on Continental markets for recycled corrugated case material will be the guideline for similar increases planned for the UK market.

Players on the recycled corrugated case material market in the UK had one main task in September: keeping a close eye on price developments in mainland Europe. After all, what happened in Germany and France would determine whether they would succeed in pushing through their plans to raise prices for all types of brown recycled corrugated case material from 17 September. "We have no chance of raising prices here in the UK if prices do not increase enough on the continent," one contact told EUWID.

It seems to be almost certain that prices will not rise by the full sum asked for by producers. Importers said that they expected mark-ups of about half of the announced increase or even less on Continental Europe's large markets.

Manufacturers had also been planning to charge more for white-top testliner from 17 September, but pushed the date back to 1 October and conceded that prices would not likely climb as much.

Demand for both brown and white testliner is said to be in line with expectations.