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Packaging
Kraftliner, Testliner, Fluting & Cartonboard
The French kraftliner 175gr price stayed flat in December but increased by 35.9% y-o-y to EUR
947/MT, as demand continues to outstrip supply. Market participants report that the market has
eased slightly, and demand is not as overheated as it was earlier in the year. Obtaining the right
grades was again gaining importance for converters, while they took everything available on the
market during the boom. Supply is still tight and has only improved slightly.
The French testliner 2 average price stayed flat in December but increased by 49.1% y-o-y, at EUR
850/MT, primarily driven by booming demand from the e-commerce sector and high production
costs. Further price increases for white-top testliner, of around EUR 50/t, are planned from January
2022.
The semi-chemical fluting price stayed flat in December, but increased by 21.4% y-o-y to EUR
878/MT, driven by brisk demand and high raw material costs. The price changes for primary fibre
fluting are considerably lower than the price hikes for brown kraftliner. The availability of semichemical
fluting remains tight. Market players report that they have managed to avoid paying markups
until January 2022 or have secured minor concessions from suppliers.
The December average price of GD2 increased by 8.2% m-o-m and by 45.3% y-o-y, to EUR
1,315/MT, driven by strong demand (from the e-commerce and food industries) and high production
costs (for energy, fibre and transport). The December average price of EU GC2 also increased by 3%
m-o-m and by 21.1% y-o-y, at EUR 1,695/MT, due to high production costs and logistics disruptions.
GC2 board mills have order backlogs stretching into April. Producers have asked for an increase of
around EUR 130-140/t for the GD2 and GC2 board from January 2022. As long as current conditions
prevail, producers will likely continue to demand energy surcharges.
600
660
720
780
840
900
960
1,020
Dec 19 Mar 20 Jun 20 Jun 21 Sep 21 Dec 21
Kraftliner - EUR/MT
Sep 20 Dec 20 Mar 21
SZ173 - Kraftliner 175g del FR
750
690
630
570
510
450
810
870
930
Dec 19 Mar 20 Jun 20 Jun 21 Sep 21 Dec 21
Testliner - EUR/MT
Sep 20 Dec 20 Mar 21
SZ176 - Testliner 2 ave del FR
700
730
760
790
820
850
880
910
Dec 19 Mar 20 Jun 20 Jun 21 Sep 21 Dec 21
Fluting - EUR/MT
Sep 20 Dec 20 Mar 21
SZ179 - Fluting semi-chem FR
800
900
1,000
1,100
1,200
1,300
1,400
1,390
1,440
1,490
1,540
1,590
1,640
1,690
1,740
Dec 19 Dec 21
Cartonboard - EUR/MT
Mar 20 Jun 20 Sep 20
SV86 - Cartonboard GC2 del EU hi
Dec 20 Mar 21 Jun 21 Sep 21
SV90 - Cartonboard GD2 EU hi (right axis)