US average wastepaper prices in September up a bit for SOP open market and OCC contract sales, while DLK and OCC open market prices decline, though slightly; volumes flat for DLK, down for OCC, reports Market2Mill

Debra Garcia

LOS ANGELES , October 22, 2013 (Industry Intelligence) – The strongest change in direction for U.S. recovered paper prices tracked by Market2Mill in September occurred in sorted office paper (SOP) and that change was upward by just US$2.35 per ton, to $149.74/ton, with two markets reporting.

The only other index tracked by Market2Mill to show a positive trend on prices in September was for old corrugated containers (OCC) in contract transactions. That U.S. average price was up by $1.48/ton, to $125.88/ton.

The two remaining indexes Market2Mill follows for its price report, OCC in open market sales and new double-lined kraft (DLK) corrugated cuttings in open market sales, both declined in September, but only slightly.

Average OCC price relatively flat. The U.S. average open market price for OCC was down by $0.50/ton, to $124.76/ton. The steepest drop regionally occurred in the Southeast, which fell by $4.49/ton, to end at the highest price across the U.S., $146.20/ton.

Conversely, the largest jump in price for U.S. OCC open market sales was $4.79/ton, to end at the U.S.’s lowest price, $109.56/ton. This occurred in the North Central, according to Market2Mill, Forest2Market Inc.’s wastepaper pricing service.

The U.S. average DLK price in September fell $0.89/ton, to $142.65/ton. The greatest decline was in the Southwest, which fell by $4.08/ton, to end at $142.52/ton, while the only hike was in the Atlantic, which was up $1.89/ton, to $169.12/ton.

The highest DLK price in September, by far, was in the Atlantic. The lowest price was in the Midwest, at $135.22/ton. No price was provided for the North Central. DLK prices varied significantly overall, with strong variation in four of the six markets.

DLK volumes unchanged overall. Volumes for DLK were flat overall in September, with three of the six markets showing a significant decline, no change in the North Central, and a significant increase in the Pacific and Atlantic, reported Market2Mill.

OCC volumes were down for both open market and contract sales. All six markets reporting saw a drop in OCC volumes in contract transactions, while all but one of the markets were down for open market sales, with the Pacific being unchanged. The North Central showed significant declines in both contract and non-contract transactions.

OCC prices varied significantly overall for both open market and contract sales. For both, there was strong market price variation in three markets, with both seeing it in the Atlantic and Southwest; but open market sales also felt it in the Midwest, while contract sales also experienced it in the Southeast.

Price variation for OCC open market transactions was mild in the Pacific and barely if at all present in the Southeast, while price variation for OCC contract sales varied mildly in the Midwest and was barely if at all present in the North Central.

Market2Mill did not report OCC export market prices for September.

U.S. prices for SOP were reported in two regions, the Midwest and the Southwest. Both increased in September, with the Midwest up $2.50/ton, to $143.06/ton and the Southwest up $1.22/ton, to $156.80/ton, reported Market2Mill.

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