Market Report

It's willing, but apparentely can't . . .

NL-Tilburg, 5 July 2026

Weighing the market at the start of July, we have to conclude that there is some positive movement in the market, but that the ever high expectations in our sector have not been met (yet?). Well, in the export market, prices for low grades are edging up slightly in some export countries and, in turn, amongst a few buyers, but it’s hardly worth mentioning. This is also because there is no clarity regarding container rates. Some shipping lines are raising rates, others are keeping them unchanged, whilst for certain destinations when shipping from specific European ports, there is still some room for negotiation on the rates. Consequently, there is no clear picture of exactly what the export market is like at present. However, there are now a few destinations and associated container rates where price increases of a few dollars for occ (cardboard) this week are once again resulting in slightly higher ex-works prices. And with the general view among local European buyers that there is sufficient occ (kls) available and that higher prices are therefore out of the question, the gap between export prices and local prices for occ/cardboard has widened slightly once again. One might therefore think that the local paper and board industry would have to take action. But for various reasons cited – such as high stock levels, machine downtime and so on – this does not yet seem necessary. 

We may also have been a little too optimistic about the middle and high grades. Yes, there are de-inkers who, given the decrease in collected volumes, have raised prices slightly for mecanical de-inking grades. But this is all still very limited. And this despite the fact that demand does exist, but obviously there are other reasons to hold back price increases as much as possible, such as the low selling prices of new (finished) paper.

For woodfree grades, we had already factored in price increases, but we have not yet been able to implement them. This may still happen, as many mill buyers have not yet finalized their positions for July. In the coming period, it will be a matter of weighing up the generation in the short term, the volumes that

will become available as a result, and also the position of suppliers who, given the lower generation, consider a price increase necessary or had at least been counting on one.     

Price indication

Price indication in Europe for low grades of recovered paper, sorted, baled and ex works are now between € 60 and € 80 per tonne. These prices are depending on quality, available volume, region and loaded weight.

Look here at the Price chart >> 
  
The price chart gives an indication of the price  of mixed paper, separately collected, in the Netherlands free delivered mill over the last 10 years.
Scrolling over the top of the columns gives the exact price indication in Euro's per ton.