Uncoated Free Sheet prices are also rising, Wilde points out. UFS 50-lb offset list prices in October rose $35-40/ton to $845-$865, while the cut size grades remained flat at $1,010-$1,060/ton. The price hike was driven by higher pulp prices, slight pickup in demand (October preliminary shipments -10.3% y/y, YTD -13.6% y/y), and lower September mill inventories (-3.6% m/m). IP and Domtar recently announced 800,000 tpy of permanent capacity closures by mid-2010, representing 7% of North American UFS capacity.

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