Negotiations on magazine paper contracts for the third quarter and for the second half of 2012 ended with a price reduction.Especially LWC paper is said to be affected by price competition.
Magazine paper has been on offer at cheaper prices since the beginning of the month as price negotiations for deliveries in the second half/third quarter of 2012 culminated in reduced prices across all grades. EUWID respondents reported that prices were lowered for all deliveries made as of 1 July.
Highly competitive pricing could be observed in the recent negotiations in the LWC segment. On the one hand, the Italian market has more suppliers of LWC than for SC paper. On the other, coated magazine paper prices are reportedly too high, making them unattractive to be used for retail advertising and sometimes even to print magazines, some market players said explaining current developments in LWC prices. Given the circumstances, quite a few strategic transactions were concluded at downright spot prices, according to reports from Italy. In the case of SC paper, high volatility was seen especially at the top end of the price range.
⇒ This article in an excerpt from EUWID's monthly report on the Italian paper market. The EUWID Price Watch Italy for July will be published in EUWID Pulp and Paper no. 31 on 1 August.
Our weekly newsletter's print and e-paper versions keep busy professionals up-to-date on the latest news from European pulp and paper markets.
⇒ Test EUWID Pulp and Paper free of charge and without any obligation by clicking here.
