Aug 2021

Pulp Capacity & Price Changes

• Bracell postpones startup of new pulp line in Brazil until early Sept. The project includes two swing pulp lines with a combined capacity of up to 2.8 million tonnes/yr of bleached kraft pulp or 1.5 million tonnes/yr of dissolving pulp (DP). (RISI, Aug 2021)
• Arauco sets BEK pulp prices in China at $655/tonne in Sept., a $15/tonne drop (RISI, Aug 2021)
• Stocks of woodpulp at European ports fell in July, dipping 3.6% month on month. Inventories stood at 1,042,147 tonnes, down from 1,081,603 tonnes in June, according to the latest statistics from Europulp.
• CMPC to add new 350,000 tonnes/yr BEK pulp capacity in Brazil by 4Q23. The project will expand Guaiba mill’s BEK pulp capacity from 2m tonnes/year to 2.3m tonnes/year (RISI, Aug 2021)
• Belarus’ Svetlogorsk pulp and paper mill is not expected to reach its full production capacity of 400,000 tonnes/yr of bleached softwood kraft (BSK) pulp until 2022. At present, the plant is producing about 270,000 tonnes/yr of pulp. (RISI, Aug 2021)
• LD Celulose’s new DP mill is 72% complete; startup expected for March 2022. The unit is expected to reach full production capacity of 500,000 tonnes/yr by the first quarter of 2023 (RISI, Aug 2021)

Paper Capacity & Price Changes

• APRIL announced a $50/tonne price hike for its uncoated woodfree paper on 25 Aug, range in Africa and the Middle East, effective on deliveries immediately. (RISI, Aug 2021)
• Navigator to increase paper prices by 6% in Europe from Sept 27. (RISI, Aug 2021)
• UFS supply may tighten further with Sept./Oct. downtime, Jackson PM (365k t/y)shift to containerboard: IP, Domtar, and PCA are taking scheduled maintenance downtime, and also while seasonal and post-pandemic demand is picking up; N.A UFS mill OR hit 93% in July compared with 74% in July of 2020, according to PPPC (RISI, Aug 2021)
• International Paper completed the previously disclosed sale of its Kwidzyn pulp and paper mill and supporting operations to Mayr-Melnhof Group. The Kwidzyn business has approximately 2,300 employees with an annual capacity to produce 740,000 metric tons of folding boxboard, uncoated freesheet, specialty kraft papers, and market pulp on four machines. (RISI, Aug 2021)
• UWF prices rise in Europe in Q2, early Q3; more hikes announced. Lecta, Burgo and Sappi have all announced price hikes from September, as production costs rise. (RISI, Aug 2021)
• Japanese paper and board firm Daio Paper has announced a price hike for its fine paper range, effective on deliveries from September 1. (RISI, Aug 2021)