August has been a quiet month on the French recovered paper market except for some untypical developments. Prices of some higher recovered paper grades, which usually tend to rise over summer due to low collection volumes, saw renewed cuts. The downward spiral of prices for deinking grades has been arrested for now and prices for the lower grades were also stable, supported by good export activity.
Many paper and board mills usually take maintenance breaks in August, as also in the current year. However, despite the generally weak order situation in the packaging sector, there were hardly any market-related shutdowns, industry insiders said. Demand for the lower recovered paper grades was therefore weak in August, as has been usual recently, but still within the expected range. A few orders were received also from Germany, suppliers reported.
Exports to Asia picked up somewhat, helping stabilise the market. Merchants had already noticed an increase in enquiries and orders in July, a trend that continued in August. Shipped volumes were reportedly not enormous but buyers showed greater presence on the market again, several market participants told EUWID. Prices were said to be attractive, often up to €20/t higher than in the domestic French market.
Read the complete monthly report on the recovered paper market in France and access price tables and graphing tools here:
