The summer lull has arrived in the pulp market, at least for softwood grades. Manufacturers failed to achieve their initial price target of $870 in June and contracts continued to be closed at $850-860/ metr.t. They have now abandoned hopes of implementing the remaining $10-20/metr. t in the current month. "The last price hike attempt in Asia was not successful and a certain reluctance has since also been felt in Europe", a EUWID respondent said. Even though capacity utilisation at softwood pulp mills is reportedly still okay and there is no summer slump in sight, the softwood pulp market is said not to be taut enough to support manufacturers' plans for price hikes, but also not weak enough for price cuts.
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