Negotiations over hardwood market pulp prices in Europe are taking longer than usual to conclude.
Market participants point to the patchwork of public holidays across Europe in late May and early June as one reason. At the same time, buyers have pushed back more strongly against manufacturers' latest BEK price increase demands, reducing the pressure to finalise May business quickly.
Despite the growing resistance from buyers, BEK pulp suppliers across Europe appear set to achieve a significant part of their latest price hike proposals.
