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North American coated recycled board prices rose for the second time in the past four months, Wilde points out, up $30/ton (proposed = $40/ton) to $790/ton in January. The price hike was driven by unseasonably strong demand (unmade orders = 145,000 tons/week, +40% y/y), higher operating rates (95.1% thru January), lower inventory levels, and higher OCC (+$30 - $35/ton since December) and energy costs. Anecdotal reports, Wilde notes, suggest that large volume buyers are getting discounts, with prices in the "low $700s/ton once this increase settles." Reports also suggest that some of the higher CRB demand is due to the downward substitution from SBS or CUK, according to Wilde.
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