As in other countries, the mood on the recovered paper market in France is somewhat tense and many prices are trending higher. Sources did not report any real bottlenecks in March but gave a general impression that recovered paper arisings were low overall and that there was somewhat greater competition for material.
Prices for mixed paper and board, supermarket paper and board, and old corrugated containers (OCC) rose in March. Deinking grades also cost more. Prices for high grades were stable in many cases, with only coloured letters commanding a little less than in February.
The overall consumer climate has not improved either in France or in Europe as a whole. Insiders continue to describe the various paper markets as fundamentally weak. Notwithstanding underlying market conditions, recovered paper prices are on the rise.
Market players felt that it was the combination of several factors driving recent price developments. For one, German paper mills had reportedly been buying a little more in France in March. Demand from French corrugated case material and cartonboard producers was often described as slightly better, too. Sources did not interpret this as evidence of a lasting improvement in paper companies’ order books because the consumer confidence remains poor.
Asian buyers are also purchasing recovered paper – not much, but consistently - while collection volumes have been low for many months now.
Read the full monthly market report on recovered paper in France and access the current prices and graphing tools here:
