North American newsprint producer White Birch, Greenwich, Conn., became the second producer in two days, according to RISI (Bedford, Mass.), to announce a newsprint price increase in the U.S. in the new year.

White Birch, the second-largest newsprint producer in North America, told customers in a December 1 letter that it will hike the price of 30-lb (48.8 gm) newsprint by $40 for each metric ton in two equal installments of $20 on January 1 and February 1. The price of other basis weights will be increased accordingly.