COVERAGE NOTE: Changes to US RCP Prices for Exports to China

COVERAGE NOTE: Changes to US RCP Prices for Export to China

In light of China’s planned ban on imports of “unsorted” recyclables such as mixed paper, due to take effect on Dec. 31, RISI is considering the following changes to its recovered paper coverage in PPI Pulp & Paper Week:

  • To discontinue assessments of mixed paper CFR China from Long Beach/Los Angeles and New York/New Jersey (price IDs 11914 and 11884)
  • To change the destination title to Asia of four US mixed paper export prices assessed on a FAS basis, from the destination title of China (price IDs 11886, 11888, 11891, 11912). The Asia destination would include exports to India, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

These changes may be necessary if US exports of mixed paper to China drop significantly or even stop. In this case, RISI would be unable to maintain reasonable assessments of the value of mixed paper for delivery to China.

The timeline for the proposed changes has yet to be fixed, and it would depend on market developments in 2018. RISI will communicate further on this following consultation with stakeholders. If there is insufficient market data for mixed paper on which to base assessments following the introduction of the import ban, RISI will use limited pricing information and other factors, such as the relative values of similar grades. For more information on RISI’s assessment methodology, please visit https://www.risiinfo.com/approach/methodology/price-assessment-methodology/.

Please send comments to pricing@risi.com, indicating “US RCP Export Prices” in the subject line of the email, by the end of February 2018. RISI will publish its final decision and timeline for any changes as soon as possible after this date.

What to read next
Fastmarkets proposes to launch Nordic sawn timber export prices for selected European markets and grades, while discontinuing the PIX Sawn Timber FAS Finland indices. The PIX sawn timber FAS Finland indices have not been widely adopted by the industry and the new price assessments will offer more end-market-specific data for major European markets and will […]
To increase transparency, Fastmarkets has further clarified how it handles price movements during periods of low liquidity. Factors that Fastmarkets may consider during times of low liquidity include, but are not limited to: market fundamentals such as changes in inventory levels, shipments, operating rates and export volumes; relative fundamentals of similar commodities in the same […]
Fastmarkets invited feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for PIX Packaging GCC indices via an open consultation process between April 16 and May 14, 2025. This consultation was done as part of our published annual methodology review process. Full details of the prices covered by this consultation can be found here. No feedback […]
Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for the PIX Forest Biomass Finland price indices, as part of its announced annual methodology review process. This consultation, which is open until June 12, 2025, seeks to ensure that our methodologies continue to reflect the physical market under indexation, in compliance with the […]
The publication of the following price was delayed for 10 minutes: MB-ALU-0002 Alumina index, fob Australia, $/tonne This price is a part of the Fastmarkets Base Metals package. For more information or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of this price or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter […]
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the frequency of Taiwan base metals prices from biweekly to monthly, and the delivery timing for the tin 99.99% ingot premium from two weeks to four weeks.