Pulp manufacturers are trying to push sales price further up in February.
Brisk ordering activity was the characteristic feature of the European pulp market in the first month of the new business year. Word has it that even additional volumes were ordered in some cases. Nevertheless, the envisaged mark-ups of $20-30/metr.t with effect from 1 January could not be fully pushed through.
Prices for northern and southern bleached softwood kraft pulp have seen a $10 increase in January. The originally envisaged price targets are now to be pushed through in February. Suppliers of bleached eucalyptus pulp from South America reportedly did not have quite such a difficult time getting their asking prices accepted. The goal for February is now to bump up all contracts to the higher level.
Contrary to the original expectations, prices for fluff pulp could not be raised in January. Industry observers had been reckoning on mark-ups of at least $20/metr.t, but the lull in demand since December has put an end to these plans. Prices had to be lowered again where higher rates had already been invoiced.
⇒ This article is an excerpt from EUWID's monthly report on the pulp markets in Europe. The EUWID Price Watch Pulp for January is to be published in EUWID Pulp and Paper no. 06 on 6 February.
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