The French paper market could fairly be described as having experienced August calm before a September storm. While the summer month of August was marked by limited business and the holiday-related absence of many market players from the office as so often in the past, September should point the way ahead in terms of the future trend in prices. Prices remained broadly stagnant in August, with the downward trend in recycled corrugated case material prices grinding to a halt, as well. In September, however, producers of coated fine paper, sometimes also woodfree un-coated paper, cartonboard, kraftliner and recycled corrugated case material intended to raise prices. In many instances, these mark-ups were planned despite the fact that the market trend was not exceptional, producers however were under great pressure to halt the erosion in margins. Steady prices dominated the French recovered paper market in August, as well.
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