Market Report
Local occ prices catching up with export
NL-Tilburg, 4 oktober 2026
The European paper and board industry has had to respond to the ever-widening gap between local prices for low grades and export prices. After France had already announced a €10 per tonne increase on occ (kls) – in France, mixed paper is hardly used at all, nor is OI/print paper – neighbouring countries followed suit with a €10 per tonne increase as well. In Spain, where the price gap with export prices was wider, the price of occ (cardboard) was raised by €20 per tonne.
None of this came as a surprise.
CIF export prices remained unchanged this past week, pending the response of the local industry in Europe, but with the significant appreciation of the US dollar over the past week, ex-works prices have nevertheless risen slightly. It is quite possible that the local price increases will therefore prove insufficient.
An additional benefit is that a number of shipping lines have indicated they will maintain their freight rates at the same level for November as well. If that commitment is honoured – which, unfortunately, is not always the case – it provides certainty in terms of transport and, consequently, in terms of selling prices. After all, the volatility of the US dollar can be hedged.
As regards the low grades, there is as yet no clarity on prices for mixed paper and deink news and pam. These are grades of which available volumes have been dwindling for years and which are therefore relatively expensive.
The ever reducing available quantities of newspapers and magazines, and the ‘disappeared’ hard (printing) mixed, are still fetching good prices in certain regions, but this may change in North-West Europe due to Palm UK’s switch from newsprint to recycled liner board. There is already a sign of reduction in demand – or should we say an increase in supply – which is giving the remaining de-inkers some breathing space to pause on price increases. It is not yet clear what, if anything, will happen in October.
Demand for middle and high grades is, however, on the rise, at least as far as demand is concerned. Here too, we are seeing a slump in collections, but that is precisely why the supply-demand balance is positive. Although the general impression last week was that the situation was ‘unchanged’ for October
prices, some buyers have nevertheless introduced price increases of around €5 per tonne.
Italian tissue group Lucart announced this week that it had ordered a new tissue machine for its mill in Laval, France, which will increase production there by 40,000 tonnes per year. There is still room for growth in that sector, although the purchase of so many tissue machines worldwide does give cause for concern.
Price indication
Price indication in Europe for low grades of recovered paper, sorted, baled and ex works are now between € 80 and € 100 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.