Global Market Pulp Prices Slip In October

As expected, market pulp prices fell $20 - $30/metric ton in October, Wilde reports, adding that lower prices were driven by the prospect of higher September inventories, mill restarts, and the specter of the normal year-end slowdown. U.S. NBSK fell $20/metric ton to $970/metric ton, with buyers pushing for further declines. U.S. hardwood markets appear far weaker than softwood. Spot hardwood prices continue to decline and there are reports of producers under-cutting quotes, Wilde explains.

European markets, where NBSK prices remained flat in the past two months, are showing signs of weakness with producers cutting prices by $20 - $30/metric ton. In China, where local producers such as APRIL are selling BHK for $150/etric ton lower than the $800/metric ton set by Latin American producers, BEK prices are eroding. "We are hearing reports that BEK prices to China are down as much as $60/metric ton in the last month," Wilde says.

TAPPI
http://www.tappi.org/