U.S. NBSK Markets Firm

Low market pulp sales volumes in early 2011, largely due to weakness in printing and writing paper production, do not show in the U.S. softwood pulp (NBSK) market pricewise, reports FOEX Indexes, Finland. With good demand pull outside of the U.S. and with some maintenance downtime already being taken and some more to come, the market has been firm, FOEX reports

Even in hardwood, FOEX adds, the market has tightened, although the resistance to price increase initiatives has been much stronger than in softwood. Price increases have been announced separately by several major producers, typically by $30 /ton beginning April 1, FOEX reports.

TAPPI
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