Uncoated Free Sheet Markets Tighten
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Domtar's recent announcement to close a 125,000 tpy uncoated free sheet (UFS) machine at Ashdown, Ark., USA, should tighten the market, according to Mark Wilde, senior analyst with Deutsche Bank. The move, he says, suggests a focus on maintaining supply/demand balance in a structurally declining market. Preliminary March UFS shipments were encouraging: +19.3% m/m and +4.0% y/y, Wilde reports, adding that a $40/ton April price hike on offset grades is reportedly gaining traction. Many within the industry expect a cut-size price attempt in May. March estimated offset prices were flat at $920 - $940/ton, +4.2% y/y, Wilde notes.
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