Prices in Europe and the USA were quite stable during the latter months of 2022, staying at very low levels after declines in the previous quarter for OCC and deinking grades; very subdued demand for finished products seems to have been the reason behind this. Stock levels are quite high at most paper mills owing to low consumption whereas stocks in recyclers’ yards are perhaps lower as a result of reduced collection volumes. However, our main problem is the weak demand for recovered paper (...)

• Market dynamism eroded in second half of 2022
• Prices remain interesting and demand still apparent
• Outlook for 2023 full of uncertainty

• Exports provide relief for local market
• Price bottleneck for sales to Asia
• Lower sales and inventory build-up in late December

• Sharp drop in domestic recovered paper consumption
• Mills struggle to increase sales prices
• Return to more normal shipping costs boosts recovered paper exports

• OCC market more stable towards end of last year
• Decreasing demand for deinking
• Good logistics capacity during final quarter of 2022

• Significant increase in stocks and rapid decline in sales prices
• Collection companies facing really hard times
• Domestic production around 3 million tonnes in 2022

• Hopes dented as 2023 starts out just as 2022 ended
• Less demand for packaging owing to low consumer confidence
• Mills’ significant downtime helps create depressed pricing for recovered fibre