German recovered paper prices remain on an upward trajectory in May. Prices for ordinary grades had already risen sharply in March and April. Additional hikes averaging €20 per tonne were thought to be on the cards in May for the grades mixed paper, supermarket paper and board and sorted graphic paper for deinking.
Insiders attributed this fresh price increase to somewhat brisker demand from the paper industry, persistently weak recovered paper arisings and logistical and collection-related challenges because of several public holidays falling on weekdays in Germany in May.
Paper mills’ capacity utilisation levels and demand for recovered paper appear to be stronger than last year. This assessment is also borne out by figures from the German industry association Die Papierindustrie. Its statistics show that German paper mills consumed 4.1 million tonnes of recovered paper in the first quarter of 2024. This is 7 per cent more than in the same stretch last year.
Read the full monthly report on the recovered paper market in Germany and access the current price changes and graphing tools here:
