Market Pulp—Last Price Rise?

U.S. NBSK prices rose $20/metric ton to a record $1,040/mton in June. Mark Wilde, senior analyst with Deutsche Bank, asks "is this is the last leg upward for pulp prices?" Chinese demand is soft and spot prices are down as much as $100/metric ton, he notes. Reports suggest that local NBSK prices in China are ˜$60 - $70/metric ton below international levels. In Europe, NBSK prices could rise further, mainly due to the weak U.S. dollar. Meanwhile, sluggish paper demand and record pulp prices are forcing non-integrated mills to curtail/shutdown production, Wilde reports.

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