Containerboard Markets Confusing
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April North American containerboard prices were reported to be flat, says Mark Wilde, senior analyst with Deutsche Bank. "Sadly, figuring out what constitutes ‘the price' has become a bit like trying to read the Soviet-era Kremlin. This weekend, the trade papers' lead article points to linerboard ‘transaction' prices stable at $530 - $550/ton, net of discounts, (tier-2 producers = $510 - $520/ton in some markets), ‘list' price at $685 - $695/ton, and a third price of $635 - $645/ton. One single commodity, three (or four) different prices—if you're confused, so are we. "Reliable trade sources have been reporting increased discounting in the box market. Initial Q1 results suggest that we ought to focus more on results rather than the trade papers. Is the erosion destined to continue? We don't think so. Better-than-expected March box shipments, falling inventories in Q2, higher exports, and rising input costs could prompt a price hike in Q3," Wilde says.
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