The EU-Mercosur trade agreement, set to take provisional effect in 2026, aims to reduce trade barriers between the two regions. However, the deal faces significant opposition from environmental groups and EU agricultural sectors. For the pulp and paper industry, the effects will be phased in over several years, with an analysis by Cepi showing that tariff reductions will be gradual, eventually benefiting about 85% of EU pulp exports and 90% of paper and board exports.

Crop-based biodiesel became cheaper than fossil diesel in the EU for the first time on Thursday April 2, when premiums for core crop grades FAME 0 (fatty acid methyl ester 0) and RME (rapeseed methyl ester) over ICE gasoil fell into negative territory.

Fastmarkets is proposing to launch new price series for its benchmark European PIX Pulp gross prices and North American effective list pulp prices from June 1, 2026. The new prices would run concurrently alongside existing prices for one year before the existing prices with higher discount levels are discontinued on June 1, 2027.

The publication of Fastmarkets’ European low-carbon aluminium differential assessments for Thursday April 2 were delayed because of a procedural error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.

Fastmarkets has corrected its MB-AL-0379 Aluminium 6063 extrusion billet premium, ddp Italy (Brescia region), inferred low-carbon, and Aluminium 6063 extrusion billet premium, ddp North Germany (Ruhr region), inferred low-carbon midpoint assessments, which were published incorrectly on Friday April 2, due to a procedural error.

Fastmarkets has corrected its price and rationale for MB-STE-0028 steel hot-rolled coil index domestic, exw Northern Europe and the assessments for MB-STE-0905 green steel base price HRC exw Northern Europe, daily inferred and MB-STE-0912 flat steel reduced carbon emissions, daily inferred, exw Northern Europe, which were published incorrectly on Wednesday April 1.

Fastmarkets proposes to launch four monthly price assessments for tissue jumbo rolls delivered to Europe on Thursday May 28.

European sawn timber markets moved into February 2026 in a broadly cautious mood, with price stability across most grades and destinations masking a more anxious undercurrent driven by the eruption of the Iran conflict and its mounting consequences for global freight markets.

The publication of four Fastmarkets’ price assessments for boric acid were delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated. The following price assessments were affected:MB-BOR-0012 Boric acid, technical grade, granular, fca US West CoastMB-BOR-0013 Boric acid, technical grade, granular, cif ChinaMB-BOR-0014, Boric acid, technical grade, granular, ddp EuropeMB-BOR-0015 Boric acid, technical grade, granular, cif […]

Fastmarkets is extending its proposal to discontinue eight assessments for seamless and welded tube and pipe in Europe and Asia. The proposal is due to subdued activity and a lack of available data in Europe and parts of Asia. Fastmarkets proposes to discontinue the following prices: MB-STE-0825 Europe welded Spiral DSAW linepipe API 5L X65 fob […]