Chinese buyers were still holding back on purchases of recovered paper on the UK market. As a result export prices for these grades continued to decline on a weekly basis. Domestic OCC and mixed paper prices were also coming down, albeit at a more moderate pace.
At the moment buyers from the UK, continental Europe, India, Indonesia or Vietnam are mopping up the material that used to go to China, but stakeholders are wondering whether these markets might become saturated soon.
Speculations abound whether at least the three big Chinese paper mills will be getting their licences for 2018 in November and then might want to purchase large volumes again. Some market insiders warn against too much optimism unless there is an official confirmation from the Chinese authorities.
