Market Report

'Normal' still a while away

NL-Tilburg, 29 March 2026
 

Developments over the past week have once again shown that, in times of geopolitical tension, nothing is really certain. Whilst we had been under the impression that shipping lines’ rates had been set – and indeed even for April – a number of them went ahead and increased their surcharges again this week. It must be said that oil prices were also all over the place, fluctuating by more than $10 a barrel from one day to the next, so it is hardly fair to blame the shipping lines alone for the higher surcharges. However, uncertainty regarding certain destinations is also making negotiations on the sale of recovered paper volumes difficult. It can be said, however, that overseas mill buyers are willing to consider sharing additional costs, but that does not alter the major concern regarding the fulfilment of any orders and the costs that this will ultimately entail.
There is also no (as yet) urgent need for exports. Local demand in Europe is good, although prices are lower than for exports. But whether this is actually the case will only become clear in hindsight once goods have arrived at their export destinations and the actual revenue realised is known. So, uncertainty all round till then.

As for the surcharges on road transport, European buyers are also looking favourably upon them. However, this has not yet led to any compensation, and even mills who normally collect their goods are currently rather lax about it. Where we thought we would benefit from ex works sales, the goods do of course need to be collected, but this is where things are falling short. We thought we could accept the excuse that hauliers sometimes claim a surcharge of up to €500 per journey, depending on the distance, as a mere notification, but the result is that goods are no longer being collected. Delivering the goods ourselves doesn’t work either, as you often end up contacting the same hauliers. In short, even local sales come with their own challenges and simply cost (extra) money at the moment. 

With the festive season approaching, we are starting to see a bit of extra demand. And that actually applies to all grades of recovered paper. But demand that doesn’t translate into higher selling prices, due to the high

costs, leaves little room for a festive celebration during this period. Here and there, a price increase of €5 per tonne is being floated for certain low grades, but that isn’t enough to cover the sharply rising costs. So, prices need to go up, or, if we’re talking about a buyer’s market, we’ll have to absorb the costs ourselves. Or rather, our sources/suppliers will.

But the feeling is precisely that we are slowly moving towards a seller’s market. Call it optimism or opportunism, but mill buyers are certainly ringing us. Perhaps that is only to share the pain, for that leads to half the pain. But one would think that this must surely translate into something positive in terms of prices. Perhaps not yet, but what isn’t yet may still come. And perhaps President Trump, with a 10-day pause, will manage to create some calm after all, allowing us to leave the uncertainty behind us. If not, then we’ll just have to live with it.  

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.