French paper mills navigated the traditionally difficult month of May without any major difficulties in recovered paper purchasing. While the month's several public holidays brought the expected logistical challenges, manufacturers said that they were well prepared and had enough recovered paper on hand.
After increasing in April, prices for mixed paper and board (1.02), supermarket paper and board (1.04), and old corrugated containers (OCC; 1.05) remained unchanged on the French market in May. Market players reported that some high spot prices were still circulating on the market. All things considered, the market for ordinary recovered paper grades was quite balanced in May, market participants told EUWID.
In Italy, May was a fairly quiet month. Unlike in the same period in the last two years, when recovered paper prices were extremely volatile, this May was uneventful and without major turbulence. Demand was stable and there was little change in supply. Unlike in France or Germany, May was a normal month in Italy with just one public holiday falling on a weekday on 1 May, meaning that there were no problems sourcing material.
For ordinary recovered paper grades, there is stronger focus on the domestic Italian market at present. While exports to Asia did take place in May, too, much of the trading activity had recently taken place within Italy’s borders
Subscribers can read our full monthly reports on the recovered paper and board markets in France and Italy and access price charts and graphing tools here:
