Germany's fine paper machines continuing to run at good capacity utilisation

摘要

Fine paper manufacturers saw their good workloads stick around in August. Observers are reporting that the market climate is quite different from a few months ago. The industry is benefiting from the closure of production mills, lower imports and attractive export opportunities. Furthermore, the pressure to raise prices at long last is enormous. EU-WID sources thus think that prices will rise across the board and that a fresh attempt to tack on more will take place at the year's end at the latest. Calls for another €20/t hike in unbleached kraftliner prices appeared to be not entirely off the table after all as mid-August arrived. A variety of market players are reporting that talks are continuing with the goal of pushing through another mark-up with effect from 1 September.