The paper sector has reported a stable month, with prices generally flat and only OCC seeing any notable increases.
On the export side, this can be attributed to steady demand coming in from Asian markets, including southeast Asia and India.
At the same time, European markets are currently subdued with little demand from mills. Some reported that the European market is in the early stages of “waking up” and showing more demand for UK specialty grades.
Local authority generation has remained high since Christmas and is only just starting to ease off – going against trends usually seen for this time of year.
The Essity Prudhoe mill is set to begin production next month which will expected to see increased demand for SOW on the domestic market. One contact reported that there is a lot of SOW supply currently available and that the mill beginning production is unlikely to have much impact imminently but that it will ultimately drive prices up.
Some in the sector have reported that the continuing miserable (read: wet) weather has had an effect on the quality of the recovered paper coming in from municipal streams.
Looking ahead, whether the situation remains stable will depend on demand from Asian importers, domestic generation and the effects of the Essity Prudhoe mill.
View our more detailed paper price index here.
NB: From January 2026, letsrecycle.com has introduced a new paper grade between Mixed Paper and OCC called “1.04”. This will refer to OCC with a mix of 70/30. This category was introduced to better define and separate out the current OCC and mixed paper grades.
Under export pricing, the “standard quality” and “high grade” OCC categories have also been removed. The full range will remain. Those using these categories should consult the EN 643 guidelines.
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