Proposal to launch European spot pulp price assessments

The proposal is in response to an increasing demand for a clearly defined assessment of non-contracted price levels in Europe. The spot market assessments would complement the existing Fastmarkets benchmark prices for NBSK and bleached hardwood kraft pulp (BHKP), which are gross prices.

Fastmarkets is seeking feedback on the following specifications.

Pulp, northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK), DAP Europe, spot, $/tonne
Quantity: min. 100 tonnes
Location: Europe
Incoterm: DAP
Timing: Delivery no later than the following month.
Unit: Metric Ton
Currency: Published in US Dollars. Prices reported in Euro will be converted using the exchange rate valid at the time they are reported.
Price Type: Spot
Publication: Monthly, in the first full week of the month following the order month. Price data reported to Fastmarkets by 14:00 Finnish time on the day prior to publication will be included in the assessment.
Specification: Prices are for prime quality, commodity grade northern bleached softwood kraft pulp from North American, Nordic and Central European countries. Standard NBSK market pulp quality for paper and board production, no sub-par grade prices are admitted.
Technical quality criteria: Standard dryness i.e. 90% airdry. Standard strength characteristics. Brightness 88 or higher (for standard ECF/TCF).

Pulp, bleached hardwood kraft, eucalyptus (BEK), FCA Europe, $/tonne
Quantity: min. 100 tonnes
Location: Europe
Incoterm: FCA
Timing: Shipment no later than the following month.
Unit: Metric Ton
Currency: Published in US Dollars. Prices reported in Euro will be converted using the exchange rate valid at the time they are reported.
Price Type: Spot
Publication: Monthly, in the first full week of the month following the order month. Price data reported to Fastmarkets by 14:00 Finnish time on the day prior to publication will be included in the assessment.
Specification: Prices are for prime quality, commodity grade bleached hardwood kraft pulp, eucalyptus. Standard BHKP market pulp quality for paper and board production, no sub-par grade prices are admitted. (Birch is excluded from the assessment.)
Technical quality criteria: Standard dryness i.e. 90% airdry. Standard strength characteristics. Brightness 88 or higher (for standard ECF/TCF).

To provide feedback on this consultation or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter, please send feedback by November 28, 2025, to pricing@fastmarkets.com and pulp@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “re: European spot pulp price assessments.” The launch will take place, subject to market feedback, in January 2026.

Please indicate if comments are confidential. Fastmarkets will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.