U.S. Uncoated Free Sheet Markets Sluggish

All of the major U.S. UCFS producers have announced a $60/ton cut-size price hike for early June, Wilde reports. However, few observers expect the full $60/ton to stick. "Our discussions with trade contacts suggest that the cut-size price hike announcement may be more of an attempt to clean up low-end pricing deals. Preliminary April shipments were sluggish, down 11.1% m/m and 2.3% y/y. The combination of a weak U.S. dollar and rising market pulp costs are helping to create a healthy pricing floor," Wilde says.

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