Softwood Pulp considering an Increase in Price

North American producers of Northern bleached softwood pulp used widely in papermaking plan to post a list-price increase of $20/metric ton in January. Softwood pulp now lists for $770/metric ton in North America—and sells for about $100 less. A year ago, Northern bleached softwood kraft listed for $639, and sold for $570. Softwood pulp marketers insists that supplies are closing the year tighter than expected and orders for future deliveries have been booked well above current pricing.