Tepid Times for Office Paper

The paper industry is showing some divergence regarding various recovered fiber grades. Old corrugated containers (OCC) have been somewhat strong lately. This has been driven by a surprising pickup in orders from Chinese consumers, who are offering higher prices than domestic consumers.

Office grades, including deinking grades and coated book stock, however, continue to languish, with modest orders from consuming mills.

“These are slow times for manifold white ledger and sorted white ledger (a grade typically handled by document destruction firms) right now,” one Midwestern paper recycler says.

A broker on the West Coast says prices for these grades are declining in part because of slow run times at towel and tissue mills.
 

(More information on secondary paper markets, including breaking news and consuming industry reports, is available from SDB’s sister publication Recycling Today at www.RecyclingToday.com.)