Cellulose Price Trend

Cellulose Prices (Q1 2022)

Asia

Pulp futures increased in China during the Q1 2022 due to disruptions in supply. BSK futures traded at 857 USD/MT by the end of January, increasing by close to 49 USD/MT since the beginning of the year.

Latin America

Suzano SA, a Brazilian pulpmaker, increased pulp pricing for customers in Europe and North America in January. The price of the commodity was hiked by 30 USD to 1,170 USD/MT for European clients, while for North American clients, it was increased by 40 USD to 1,380 USD/MT. Such increase in pulp prices affected the [rice of cellulose as well.

Cellulose Prices (Q4 2021)

Asia

In India, demand for paper had reached pre-covid levels by the final quarter of 2021 as offices reopened after lockdowns due to the pandemic. The packaging sector grew by almost 10%. Paper prices rose as a consequence of the rise in input costs such as energy and chemical prices, as well as a rise in transportation costs. Imported pulp prices rose heavily during the quarter, which was a rare event. The pulp prices stabilised a bit later on but were estimated to go up eventually. The rise in pulp prices was a result of the price rise in lumber.

North America

In the US, Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. announced that it will increase prices for all its cellulose products by at least 15-30% to help the company adjust for the impacts of cost inflation throughout its global supply chain. In the second half of 2021, the company experienced a marked increase in major components of its cellulose input costs such as freight, fibre, energy and chemicals and therefore increased the prices of cellulose products to supplement ongoing costs.

Cellulose Prices (Q1-Q3 2021)

Asia

In Asia, in the months of February and March, the spot prices for pulp were skyrocketing. The major factors for the rise in pulp prices were the increase in freight costs amid ocean freight shortages. Another contributor to the price rise was an increase in demand for at-home tissue, while the demand for away-from-home tissues declined due to the lockdown restrictions. China witnessed a shift in the market towards paper towels and premium toilet tissues.

Europe

As a result of the rise in production costs, the Burgo group increased its graphic paper prices in Europe by 15%. Energy, chemicals, and pulp prices increased, which in turn increased the prices of paper. The rise in transportation costs from China and Asia in general also contributed to the price rise in Europe.

North America

In North America and Europe, several printing and writing mills experienced a shortage of pulp supply following the low demand in the previous year which had brought down the pulp prices.

Cellulose Prices Overview 2020

Asia

In China, Domsjö Fabriker, a part of the Aditya Birla group, increased the price of its cellulose by 50 USD effective from September 2020. The price increase was a mechanism to balance the supply-demand dynamics.

Increased pulp costs put pressure on the entire industry in Q4 of 2020, and it persisted into 2021, leading pulp prices in China to nearly quadruple. The Chinese market had grown pulp and paper consumption, with tissue and packaging/board growth driving strong demand in China. The pulp price in China was in the range of 550-700 USD/MT. Since cellulose is the basic component of paper and paperboard, the increase in pulp prices affected cellulose prices as well.

North America

In 2020, the pulp market had been hit hard by the low demand which brought down the prices of pulp. Several printing and writing mills in North America shut down temporarily or permanently as a response to the shift in demand dynamics.