N.A. Kraft Paper Markets Weaken

"It was great while it lasted," Wilde says about the two-year run-up in North American kraft paper prices that he says is now over. Kraft paper markets have weakened and prices are falling, he notes, pointing out that January prices fell $20 - $30/ton in extensible and bag grades.

"With December prices falling ˜$30/ton m/m, producers appear to have given up the October price increase of $50 - $60/ton. In the natural multiwall grade, January estimated prices slipped $10/ton to $1,010 - $1,020/ton. The key issue is weakness in Europe and its ripple effect on domestic supply/demand balance," Wilde says.

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