U.S. OCC Demand Beginning to Ease

In the domestic U.S. market, August OCC was up $2/ton to $179/ton (+42% y/y), Wilde reports. However, he notes, "we've received trade reports over the past week suggesting that domestic may be starting to ease. OCC has now been above the $150/ton level for 10 months in a row. It's not hard to see why OCC prices have been so healthy in 2011(through May U.S. OCC exports were up ˜43%). There has also been modest easing in export OCC price to Asia/China. August prices were down $5/ton to $205 - $220/ton FOB. YTD export OCC prices have been at record levels. The recent decline is due to slower packaging demand in China," Wilde says.

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