Pulpwood prices fall worldwide
Pulpwood prices fall worldwide
Wood cost is the factor that often determines the competitiveness of a pulp manufacturing plant or region, because it is the largest cost component when producing wood pulp. During the past few years, this cost has varied between 45% and 70% of the total cash cost, depending on product grade and the costs of other components such as chemicals, energy and labour.
Hardwood fibre prices continued to fall in most of the major pulp-producing countries in the world in the 4Q/15. The biggest declines were seen in Brazil, Chile, Russia, France, Germany and Indonesia. In most regions, the price adjustments occurred in both in the local currencies and in US dollar terms.
With the exception of the US South and New Zealand, softwood fibre prices were also down throughout the world in the 4Q/15. The declines ranged between two to ten percent from the previous quarter.
Source: Wood Resources International LLC