Spot prices for OCC have dramatically changed course this April, moving in response to swap price expectations. Since the ONP spot prices have not enjoyed the price bounce experienced by OCC, it is reasonably possible that ONP swap prices will come lower now that OCC swaps have already done so. Subsequently, the decline in the OCC prices may result in better swap offers, putting them in the range where buyers will transact.
China’s total recovered paper imports dropped 17.4% to 1.780 million tonnes in Feb., from 2.155 million tonnes in Jan., according to data from China Customs.
Cintas Corp., Ohio, will host a series of shredding events offering citizens and small businesses a way to discard their confidential documents. Their intention is to shred and recycle more than 400 tonnes of paper during April through a series of free community events around the nation in honour of Earth Day.
Global paper industry to focus on biofuels and biomass: A study by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Global Manufacturing Industry group noted difficult economic conditions will drive interest in the sustainable power market of biofuels. Companies in the paper and packaging sector across Europe and North America are already making speculative investments in this market.
Increased usage of bark and wood fiber for energy has pushed pulp mills to expand their external sourcing of biomass. As a percentage of total energy usage, the share of energy generated from biomass has, on a global basis, increased from 16% in 2006 to 18% in 2009 as per the Wood Resource Quarterly.
Paper stock prices rising: The cost of exporting recovered material to the Far-East has sky-rocketed over the past month as shipping lines scramble to recoup huge operating losses for the 2008/09 financial year through the newly introduced surcharges. The tough winter greatly reduced collections of fiber at a time of increasing global demand, resulting in a strong increase in recovered paper prices in the first quarter which was also reflected in the increased price of finished paper products. The price of recovered paper is expected to fall slightly in the export market in April although smaller Chinese mills are said to be active in the marketplace and demand from continental Europe remains firm.
Market pulp prices look poised to rise for the 10th month in row in Europe on the back of tight supply and strong demand. Sellers have announced increases of $40-50/tonne for bleached softwood kraft pulps and $50/tonne for bleached hardwood kraft grades. Availability is still low due to the after effects of the Feb. 27th earthquake in Chile that idled the country’s market pulp industry. Still, on the fiber front, the OCC and ONP/OMG indices have edged up too as this market is also tight.
Tembec SAS is in advanced negotiations with Paper Excellence B.V for the sale of two kraft pulp mills located in Tarascon and Saint-Gaudens,France. This is predicted to reduce its debt and to help the company better ride the current wave of rising global pulp prices.
Pratt Industries, the 100% recycled paper and packaging company has started recycling in Denton, Texas.
Strikes: Swedish trade union Pappers announced that it plans to take industrial action at six pulp and paper mills in Sweden. On 6th April, the union put a strike notice of 3000 employees and it goes into force on 16th April if the negotiations are not solved.
Members of the Offset Printers’ Association in Ludhiana will observe a day’s strike on Saturday to protest against the steep hike in prices of paper and paperboard. Their demands include printing the date of manufacture on the stock, abolition of import duty on paper and cardboard and that paper mills intimate them a fortnight before increasing prices.
China’s total recovered paper imports dropped 17.4% to 1.780 million tonnes in Feb., from 2.155 million tonnes in Jan., according to data from China Customs.
Cintas Corp., Ohio, will host a series of shredding events offering citizens and small businesses a way to discard their confidential documents. Their intention is to shred and recycle more than 400 tonnes of paper during April through a series of free community events around the nation in honour of Earth Day.
Global paper industry to focus on biofuels and biomass: A study by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Global Manufacturing Industry group noted difficult economic conditions will drive interest in the sustainable power market of biofuels. Companies in the paper and packaging sector across Europe and North America are already making speculative investments in this market.
Increased usage of bark and wood fiber for energy has pushed pulp mills to expand their external sourcing of biomass. As a percentage of total energy usage, the share of energy generated from biomass has, on a global basis, increased from 16% in 2006 to 18% in 2009 as per the Wood Resource Quarterly.
Paper stock prices rising: The cost of exporting recovered material to the Far-East has sky-rocketed over the past month as shipping lines scramble to recoup huge operating losses for the 2008/09 financial year through the newly introduced surcharges. The tough winter greatly reduced collections of fiber at a time of increasing global demand, resulting in a strong increase in recovered paper prices in the first quarter which was also reflected in the increased price of finished paper products. The price of recovered paper is expected to fall slightly in the export market in April although smaller Chinese mills are said to be active in the marketplace and demand from continental Europe remains firm.
Market pulp prices look poised to rise for the 10th month in row in Europe on the back of tight supply and strong demand. Sellers have announced increases of $40-50/tonne for bleached softwood kraft pulps and $50/tonne for bleached hardwood kraft grades. Availability is still low due to the after effects of the Feb. 27th earthquake in Chile that idled the country’s market pulp industry. Still, on the fiber front, the OCC and ONP/OMG indices have edged up too as this market is also tight.
Tembec SAS is in advanced negotiations with Paper Excellence B.V for the sale of two kraft pulp mills located in Tarascon and Saint-Gaudens,France. This is predicted to reduce its debt and to help the company better ride the current wave of rising global pulp prices.
Pratt Industries, the 100% recycled paper and packaging company has started recycling in Denton, Texas.
Strikes: Swedish trade union Pappers announced that it plans to take industrial action at six pulp and paper mills in Sweden. On 6th April, the union put a strike notice of 3000 employees and it goes into force on 16th April if the negotiations are not solved.
Members of the Offset Printers’ Association in Ludhiana will observe a day’s strike on Saturday to protest against the steep hike in prices of paper and paperboard. Their demands include printing the date of manufacture on the stock, abolition of import duty on paper and cardboard and that paper mills intimate them a fortnight before increasing prices.
