Higher recovered paper prices in both Spain and on the Far East export market have led to significant prices increases for mixed paper and OCC also on the French market in February. Paper manufacturers are still able to source the volumes they need, but their stocks are decreasing.
Prices for ordinary recovered paper grades have significantly moved upwards on the French market in February. Players surveyed by EUWID said this move came partly in response to sharply higher recovered paper prices in Spain. The developments in the neighbouring country had especially influenced price developments near the border in southern France.
But it was not only Spanish recovered paper prices that increased, exports to Asia also became more expensive. EUWID respondents confirmed what many sources across Europe are saying: Demand from the Far East, especially China, is very strong and export prices rose once more in February.
Against this background, recovered paper stocks of French paper manufacturers, which had been quite high in January, started to decline. For now, respondents were not all that worried and said volumes were available if the price was right. Yet some are already predicting that the situation could intensify in the coming weeks and months, and stocks could fall further.
