Portucel Soporcel to increase its uncoated woodfree paper prices in Europe by 3%-5%, effective at beginning of April, cites growing pressure from costs, historically low prices that are leading to mill closures in US, Europe
LISBON, Portugal
,
March 13, 2014
(press release)
–
• Increase of 3% to 5% for April
• Growing pressure from the industry's cost structure and historically low prices lead to plant closures in the US and in Europe
The Portucel Soporcel group, Portugal's second leading exporter, is set to increase the prices for its UWF (uncoated woodfree) paper products across all European markets, as from the beginning of April, mirroring the two increases already implemented by the Group this year, with complete success, in the US, Middle East, African and Asian markets and an increase in Latin America.
The strong pressure on the industry's cost structure, which has undermined profitability
and led to the closure of several plants in the US and Europe, has made this price
review inevitable, together with the fact that prices dropped by around 3% throughout
2013 alone, according to relevant benchmark indicators in Europe. It is necessary to go
back three and a half years, to summer 2010, to find prices lower than they are at
present, it is also worth to underline that in more than three decades only during six
periods of time real prices were actually lower than they are today.
European leader in the production of UWF paper, the Portucel Soporcel group will raise
its prices in the European market for all its products by 3% to 5%, corresponding to the
signs of growing demand detected in the early months of 2014. Since the start of the
year, demand has consistently increased, and order books at all the Group's mills are at
their highest level ever for this time of the year.
The Portucel Soporcel group markets products to 118 countries under its own paper
brands with a strong reputation for superior quality - Navigator, Pioneer, Inacopia,
Explorer, Target, Discovery and Multioffice. The Navigator brand, in particular, is the
world's best-selling office paper in the premium segment.
About the Portucel Soporcel group
The Portucel Soporcel group is Portugal’s second leading exporter, and the exporter
generating the highest level of national value added. The Group accounts for
approximately 1% of Portugal's GDP, around 3% of the country's total exports of goods,
close to 8% of all containerized cargo and 7% of all containerized and conventional
cargo exported through Portuguese ports.
In 2013, the Portucel Soporcel group attained new record levels for paper sales and
output, consolidating its position as Europe's leading manufacturer of uncoated
woodfree (UWF) printing and writing paper. The Group exported products worth €1 215
million and its turnover rose to € 1 530.6 million.
The leading European manufacturer, and the sixth largest in the world, of uncoated
woodfree (UWF) printing and writing paper, the Group is also Europe's top producer of
BEKP (Bleached Eucalyptus Kraft Pulp), and the fifth largest in the world.
As a vertically integrated forestry group with its own forestry research institute, it leads
the world in the genetic improvement of the Eucalyptus globulus. It manages 120
hectares of woodlands in Portugal certified under the FSC ® and PEFC™ systems (FSC
license C010852 and PEFC license 13-23-001), and boasts annual production capacity
for 1.6 million tons of paper, 1.4 million tons of pulp (of which 1.1 million is integrated into
paper) and power generation of 2.5 TWh.
Thanks to recent investment in doubling the production capacity of its nurseries, the
Group now operates one of Europe’s largest nurseries for forestry plants, with annual
production capacity of approximately 12 million certified plants of various species,
ready for use in renewing Portugal’s woodlands.
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