|
 Print this article | Send to Colleague
Hardwood fiber costs for the global pulp industry surpassed the cost of softwood fiber in 2009 as demand for hardwood pulp rose. The Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ), Seattle, Wash., USA, says that higher hardwood pulpwood costs in Brazil, Australia, Russia, and Sweden pushed the 3Q/09 Global Hardwood Fiber Price Index (HFPI) to the highest level in 12 months. The HFPI was more than 6% higher than the Global Softwood Fiber Price Index (SFPI), the biggest difference in 21 years.
During the past 20 years, the global SFPI has typically ranged between $5 and $10/o.d. metric ton (odmt) higher than the global HFPI. This relationship changed this year because hardwood fiber costs have increased more than softwood costs, WRQ explains. The Global Wood Fiber Indices are weighted global average delivered wood fiber prices for the pulp industry in the regions tracked by WRQ. The regions included in the Indices together account for 85%-90% of the world's wood-based pulp production capacity. The prices are based on the quarterly average prices, and country/regional wood fiber consumption data.
The HFPI was up $4.23/odmt, reaching $99.15/odmt in the 3Q/09 compared with the 2Q. This was mainly a result of higher wood costs in Brazil, Australia, Russia, and Sweden, WRQ notes. The global average hardwood fiber price is now more than $6 higher than that of softwood fiber, a historical first. The SFPI jumped $3 per odmt in the 3Q to $93.12/odmt. Much of the increase occurred because the U.S. dollar weakened against all 14 currencies in the countries included in the Index. The biggest increases were seen in Germany, Brazil, New Zealand, and Australia, according to WRQ.
|
|
