Market Pulp

Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) list price is still holding steady at $680/mton - following February's increase of $30/mton. Also, March hikes on hardwood grades have gone in successfully, with northern hardwood pulp raising by $20/mton. There are further hikes of $20-30/mton on hardwood grades proposed for late April – early May, but NBSK prices are expected to remain flat. February shipments fell 0.8%YTD, but inventory days of supply fell from 34 to 32, as the market remains tight. Higher woodfree paper production volumes, switches from hardwood to softwood production, chip shortages, closures of some pulp mills have increased tightness in the hardwood market and now leads to Bleached Hardwood Kraft BHK price increase announcements. The spot prices for recovered paper are up in Asia.