As demand continues to be at variance with supply, Södra, Sweden, is increasing the price of its northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp to $1,090 per metric ton in Europe, beginning with shipments on Feb. 1, 2018.

"Several factors are influencing the market, including challenging harvesting conditions in Scandinavia due to the mild winter, and strong market conditions in China," said Magnus Björkman, VP of marketing and sales, Södra Cell. "However, the predominant driving force behind the current market situation, overriding all others, remains robust demand, which continues apace."