Now that lockdown measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus are being eased, economic life in France has started to recover - and with it demand for printing and writing paper, which had been decimated in April and May.
Demand for woodfree printing and writing paper in France has rebounded a little after reaching its lowest point in April. That being said, it is still far away from levels that could be described as normal. Producers said that they had booked maybe half of the incoming orders in April and May that they did in the same stretch last year. Business is a little stronger in June. Insiders assume that fine paper consumption and sales will not return to the level seen at the start of March.
The repercussions of almost three months of decimated demand are now evident on prices. Some market players said that prices had not been altered much. However, other comments confirm that spot lots can cost significantly less than list prices. Several suppliers are also repeatedly making price concessions to land orders.
This article is an excerpt from EUWID's monthly report on the paper markets in France.
Find the EUWID Price Watch France for June in EUWID Pulp and Paper issue no 26/2020, which will be available to our e-paper and print subscribers as of 24 June.
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