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Packaging
Kraftliner, Testliner, Fluting & Cartonboard
36Kraftliner - EUR/MT
Jan 19 May 19 Sep 19 Jan 20 May 20 Sep 20 Jan 21 May 21
600
650
700
750
800
850
SZ173 - Kraftliner 175g del FR
The May 2021 average price of French kraftliner 175gr remained at April's level of EUR 797/MT. Demand for
corrugated board packaging had grown at below-average rates in France compared with other European countries,
but sales were still reportedly strong, especially in the food segment. According to market participants, kraftliner
supply was still reduced. The robust demand and tight supplies meant prices are trending 16.7% higher than last
year.
The French testliner 2 average price was stable m-o-m in May at EUR 690/MT. This was driven by a decline in
prices for recovered paper grades, offsetting strong demand and limited supply availability for testliner grades.
Nonetheless, prices are 29% higher y-o-y as a result of the robust demand, especially from the e-commerce sector
and reduced availability due to plant outages during Q1 2021.
Testliner - EUR/MT
Jan 19 May 19 Sep 19 Jan 20 May 20 Sep 20 Jan 21 May 21
400
450
500
550
600
650
700
750
SZ176 - Testliner 2 ave del FR
Fluting - EUR/MT
Jan 19 May 19 Sep 19 Jan 20 May 20 Sep 20 Jan 21 May 21
700
710
720
730
740
750
760
770
780
790
SZ179 - Fluting semi-chem FR
Semi-chemical fluting prices remained stable at EUR 782/MT in May, despite demand being robust. Demand for
fluting remains buoyant, even though many customers were reported to be using substitutes. Lead times also
picked up for semi-chemical fluting, although the market is not as tight as the brown paper sector. As a result,
prices are trending 6.7% higher than May 2020.
Cartonboard - EUR/MT
Jan 19 May 19 Sep 19 Jan 20 May 20 Sep 20 Jan 21 May 21
1,390
1,395
1,400
1,405
1,410
1,415
820
840
860
880
900
920
940
960
980
SV86 - Cartonboard GC2 del EU hi SV90 - Cartonboard GD2 EU hi (right axis)
April prices were flat m-o-m in May for both GC2 and GD2 at EUR 1,400/MT and EUR 965/MT, respectively.
According to market participants, lead times were extended to at least 8-10 weeks for GD, with new customers not
being able to be supplied before September. Cartonboard for food packaging remained highly sought-after in
France, but demand was tepid in the pharmaceutical and luxury packaging segments. As a result, the EU GC2
price was stable y-o-y, while GD2 prices are up 5.5% y-o-y, supported by higher prices for recovered paper
during Q3 2020 and Q1 2021.