Germany: toll charges major topic of discussion in all paper industry sectors

摘要

In the German paper markets, a great deal of time is currently being devoted to the motorway toll charges that became effective at the beginning of the year. At the end of January there was not yet any clear picture of who is ultimately to bear the burden of the extra costs. Producers in the graphic paper sector had little success with their efforts to raise prices: in woodfree uncoated and coated paper alike, all manufacturers managed to do was eradicate bottom prices, the general price range remaining unchanged. Prices even seem to be rather on the weak side where cut size sheets are concerned. Price talks in the publication paper segment LWC appear to have been largely wound up, price increases of ?20-40/t now emerging for 60 g LWC the month before, little has happened in the packaging paper segment and prices have remained stable. Heading downhill, on the other hand, are prices for kraft sack paper in spite of "unusually good" workloads. Pulp-based packaging paper is generally only selling at unchanged prices. Nothing new has occurred in recovered paper prices during the course of the month.