U.S. CFS Market Improving

As with LWC, the tenor of the coated free sheet (CFS) market is improving, Wilde reports. List prices in June were +$10 - $15/ton (+$5/ton in May). Producers announced a $40/ton price increase that went into effect in May and June. Recent data suggest a pick-up in activity (preliminary May shipments +32% y/y). However, these figures possibly benefit from a "lapping" of weak numbers from May 2009 (-29.7% y/y), according to Wilde.

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