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The recovered paper policy (RCP) import ban in China is expected to drive strong growth in virgin pulp. Apart from importing market pulp, building integrated virgin pulp capacity will be a cost-effective approach for sourcing supplementary fiber for containerboard production in China.
This report serves as a valuable resource for industry participants, investors and stakeholders who are interested in understanding the future outlook of the Chinese virgin fiber market.
What you’ll find inside:
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The publication of Fastmarkets’ France Cartonboard averages for October 2025 were delayed because of a procedural error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
US recovered fiber prices and demand remained stable through January as buyers fortified inventories ahead of a projected February generation drop. Leading containerboard producers report healthy to heavy raw material levels, especially for old corrugated containers (OCC), ensuring optimal supply despite anticipated seasonal shifts.
Fastmarkets hosted a pivotal discussion recently on the state of the global pulp and paper market. While the calendar pages have turned, the realities outlined during that session have only crystallized further. The pulp industry remains in a precarious balance where supply-side mechanics – rather than surging demand – are dictating the tempo of the market.
As previously announced, Fastmarkets has discontinued its legacy assessments for bleached and unbleached European sack kraft as of January 22 2026.
Following a market consultation, Fastmarkets launched European average prices for bleached and unbleached sack kraft with effect from January 22 2026 to complement our existing country-specific sack kraft assessments.
US pulp spot markets saw steady movement to start the year, with bleached softwood kraft (BSK) stabilizing and bleached hardwood kraft (BHK) showing improvement. Northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) prices held at $700-730 per tonne, unchanged since December, according to Fastmarkets’ latest survey.
As the Nordic and North American timber sectors grapple with sweeping operational changes, mounting trade pressures, and subdued market demand, industry leaders are pivoting strategies to preserve resilience.
Fastmarkets has corrected its prices of recovered paper, corrugated grades, old corrugated containers, imports from Japan, cif Southeast Asia, $ per tonne, which were published incorrectly on Friday January 16 owing to a typographical error.
Fastmarkets launched new assessments of northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) and bleached eucalyptus kraft (BEK) pulp spot prices for Europe on Monday January 12, 2026.
Middle East containerboard prices trended downward in December, with both testliner and fluting indices in the Gulf Cooperation Council region posting slight decreases. Market sentiment was shaped by lower demand, tighter recovered paper supply, and rising transportation costs, as regional producers and buyers looked ahead to anticipated shifts in early 2026.