International Paper announces global US$40/tonne fluff pulp price increase for Jan. 1

Dec 11, 2009 — Forestweb
By Diane Keaton

LOS ANGELES, December 11, 2009 (Forestweb) — International Paper Co. (IP) has informed customers that it will increase its price of fluff pulp by US$40 per tonne, effective Jan. 1, according to a knowledgeable source.

IP made its announcement on Dec. 10 and didn’t state its new prices.

But based on market information from recent months, this announcement would bring its list price in North America and Europe to $880/tonne.

This is the first known Jan. 1 price increase announcement for any grade of pulp.

IP had announced a $30/tonne fluff pulp price increase for Nov. 1, to $840/tonne for North America and Europe, according to market sources. But the November market price settled mostly at $820/tonne in these two regions. (Major fluff pulp producer Weyerhaeuser Co.’s announced Nov. 1 price was $820/tonne, up $20/tonne.)

However, Weyerhaeuser announced a $20/tonne Dec. 1 fluff pulp price hike for North America and Europe, which brought its list price up to the $840/tonne level.

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