Pulp Market Firmness Triggers Higher Bleaching Costs

摘要

Suppliers of bleaching chemicals follow the pulp markets very closely for signs of strength. The recent first quarter price increase for market pulp signals to bleaching chemical vendors that they can raise prices for sodium chlorate, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hy-pochlorite and even chlor-alkali. Couple this with a short supply worldwide, and it becomes apparent that the business of bleaching pulp is about to become more expensive - again. Over the years, merged companies and new owners have changed the landscape of production and distribution, and pricing along with it. Sales managers seem to be more interested in (upward) price stability rather than dealing with the swings of a commodity market. Most contracts are now under long-term agreements (i.e., more than one year), and some are linked to the price of pulp itself.