August newsprint prices in the U.S. rose for the twelfth consecutive month (+ $10/metric ton to $640/metric ton in the East and $5/metric ton to $590/metric ton in the West), as reported by Mark Wilde, senior analyst with Deutsche Bank. The increase was driven by pass-thru of earlier price hikes (especially for big national buyers) and implementation of Boise’s $25/metric ton increase, he adds.
Considering secular issues facing the newsprint industry, producers are exploring opportunities to move some capacity to other paper grades such as kraft paper and light-weight containerboard. Producers are also focusing on off-shore markets like Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East where demand is growing, Wilde explains.
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