Convert to PDFGEELONG, AUSTRALIA The March 2021 edition (Number 189) of Pulp & Paper Edge, IndustryEdge’s monthly analysis of the Australian and New Zealand pulp, paper and paper products industry was published today. A focus on food and fibre opportunities has been sharpened by the news of the Whakatane Board… Read More
Shipping & Freight: costs remain high, containers move slowly, Suez blocked
Convert to PDFContainerised freight shipping costs moderated marginally in February and through to mid-March, but have not corrected to any meaningful extent. As previous discussed, the global freight system is in pandemic-related turmoil, with mismatches of containers between ports of dispatch and delivery at all-time highs. Joc.com reports that in… Read More
Coated woodfree imports lift but remain on struggle street
Convert to PDFAustralia’s fully imported coated woodfree (CWF) paper trade was dealt a stunning blow through the pandemic that hastened already steep rates of month-on-month and year-on-year declines. After a long run of declines, January saw a fifth successive month of increases, with total imports of the main grades coming… Read More
Copy paper imports – prices fall to near three year lows
Convert to PDFImports of A4 White Copy Paper to Australia fell to just over 2,000 tonnes in January 2021, as the average price continued to decline, falling to a thirty-three month low of AUDFob1,091/t. Imports to New Zealand softened in January to total 3,192 tonnes at an average price of… Read More
Mid-Weight Coated paper imports down 18%, Korean shipments lift as US supplies stable
Convert to PDFImports of Medium Weight Coated (MWC) paper grades fell 17.9% over the year-ended January 2021, falling to 89.9 kt. Latest data shows that as they declined, this fully imported grade, manufactured with relatively high mechanical pulp content, saw the re-emergence of supplies from Korea lift to a dominant… Read More
Economics Briefing: How a housing price bubble could undo the recovery
Convert to PDFFuelled by economic stimulus, sustained low interest rates and households that have not been able to buy a holiday, Australia’s housing supply chain is booming and under stress. From sawnwood for frames, chips for particleboard flooring, hardwood for appearance features and fibre for plasterboard, the fibre, pulp, paper… Read More
Newsprint imports under cloud as New Zealand trade winds down
Convert to PDFAustralia’s imports of newsprint are never particularly large, but the volumes have crashed in recent months, mainly due to the end of trade from New Zealand. After a year of much higher average monthly imports, imports in January 2021 were just one third of those recorded in January… Read More
Paper & paperboard import value declines continue
Convert to PDFAustralia’s imports of paper, paperboard and paper products were valued at AUDFob213.6 million in January 2021, down 2.0% compared with the prior month. Most telling, the value of imports in January was a steep 20.4% lower than in January 2020. The value of New Zealand’s imports was NZDFob83.4… Read More
NZ newsprint imports: Nothing going on… yet
Convert to PDFNew Zealand’s imports of newsprint have long been highly limited, due mainly to the self-sufficiency delivered by Norske Skog’s Tasman Mill. That will change in coming months as the Tasman mill transitions to be a supplier of ‘pulp-on-reel’ products and perhaps take up other opportunities. IndustryEdge was asked… Read More
Converted Products Update – year ended Jan 2021
Convert to PDFMoulded Fibre Products Imports Australia’s Moulded Fibre product imports continued to increase in value across the year ended January 2021. Up 9.0%, total imports were valued at AUDM42.2, compared to the AUDM38.8 imported in the prior year. Used for a variety of purposes, including disposable medical pans, imports… Read More