Cartonboard suppliers in Poland have become less pessimistic about what the next few weeks might have in store. This development comes after an industry-wide, slight improvement in ordering in the country in May.
GC board suppliers interviewed by EUWID reported decent order intake from Poland for this quarter, which is reportedly stronger than in many other European countries. On the whole, however, European cartonboard plants are reportedly still operating at pretty weak capacity utilisation, although there are considerable variations from one company and one site to another.
Market players found that many GC II prices decreased during the second quarter, mainly due to cooler demand. Higher imports of cartonboard from Asia and much lower pulp prices and hence a more favourable cost basis for many cartonboard plants also prompted manufacturers to bow to pressure from customers. In any instances where suppliers have so far left prices untouched, buyers think that an adjustment will come in the third quarter at the latest.
