Launch of European spot pulp price assessments

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.

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

The specifications for the new price assessments are as follows:

FP-PLP-0152 Pulp, northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK), spot, dap Europe, $/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.
Payment terms: Assume normal and customary payment terms.
Price Type: Spot
Publication: Monthly, on the 10th of the month or the first working day thereafter. Price data reported to Fastmarkets by 14:00 Finnish time on the day prior to publication will be included in the assessment.
Notes: 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. Standard dryness (90% airdry), standard strength characteristics, brightness 88 or higher for standard ECF, 84 or higher for standard TCF.

FP-PLP-0153 Pulp, bleached hardwood kraft, eucalyptus (BEK), spot, 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.
Payment terms: Assume normal and customary payment terms
Price Type: Spot
Publication: Monthly, on the 10th of the month or the first working day thereafter. Price data reported to Fastmarkets by 14:00 Finnish time on the day prior to publication will be included in the assessment.
Notes: Prices are for prime quality, commodity grade bleached hardwood kraft pulp, eucalyptus. Standard BEK market pulp quality for paper and board production, no sub-par grade prices are admitted. Birch is excluded from the assessment. Standard dryness (90% airdry), standard strength characteristics, brightness 88 or higher for standard ECF, 84 or higher for standard TCF.

These prices are part of the Fastmarkets global pulp package.

Fastmarkets has published a set of Frequently Asked Questions to accompany this launch here.

Fastmarkets consulted on this move between October 30 and November 28, 2025.

To provide feedback on this launch or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter, please contact pricing@fastmarkets.com and pulp@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “re: European spot pulp price assessments.”

Please indicate if comments are confidential. Fastmarkets will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request. To see all Fastmarkets pricing methodology and specification documents, go to the Fastmarkets methodology page. https://www.fastmarkets.com/methodology/

What to read next
The publication of Fastmarkets’ MB-SB-0003 Antimony MMTA standard grade II, ddp China, yuan/tonne price assessment for Friday February 30 was delayed because of a reporter error.
Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-AL-0346 Aluminium P1020A premium, in-whs dup Rotterdam, $/tonne that was published incorrectly on Thursday January 29.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ alumina index, fob Australia assessment and its inferred prices for Thursday January 30 was delayed because of a procedural error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
Fastmarkets is extending the consultation period for the methodology of MB-LI-0033 lithium hydroxide, battery grade, spot price cif China, Japan & Korea price and MB-LI-0029 lithium carbonate, battery grade, spot prices cif China, Japan & Korea price.
Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-AL-0299 aluminium 6063 extrusion billet premium, ddp Spain that was published incorrectly on Friday January 23.
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the pricing schedule of its MB-ILM-0004 ilmenite concentrate, 47-49% TiO2, cif China, $/tonne; MB-RUT-0002 rutile 95% TiO2 min, bagged, fob Australia, $/tonne, and MB-RUT-0001 rutile 95% TiO2 min, large volumes for pigment, fob Australia, $/tonne, from fortnightly to monthly.