Copy paper is still selling at summer prices. In addition to declining consumption, suppliers say to have to deal with a considerable rise in import volumes from North America and Asia.
The situation on the German market for uncoated woodfree paper (UWF) remains below market players' expectations in September. Paper producers and merchants reported slow ordering activity in the first two weeks of the month, while most UWF paper grades were still available on "a very short notice".
Against the backdrop of good supply and weak demand, UWF paper suppliers have been unable to reverse the price reductions and discounts granted in the summer and bring their prices back up to pre-summer levels. According to EUWID respondents, this was true for A, B, and C-grade copy papers as well as for offset paper.
As far as regards business on the offset paper market, hard battle is still being fought in Germany with regard to prices and volumes. Nevertheless, several buyers shared the impressions that as of recently contracts were no longer being pursued at any price. Paper producers kept stressing the fact that they were more willing to shut down their machines than to continue selling their paper dirt cheap.
