BIR World Mirror on Recovered Paper / Quarterly Report - October 2013

International Market with a focus on Asia

With increased focus on quality controls and growing awareness of the “Green Fence” requirements, market confidence and export levels have both stabilised.

The weakening of global trade and the introduction of larger vessels by various shipping lines have continued to be a challenge as the lines attempted to fill their ships on the eastbound trade. Imports continued to increase, which pointed to a risk of a container imbalance in the future. As a result, eastbound sea freight rates continued to weaken.

Prices for recovered fibre were lower in the third quarter owing to increasing domestic collections in Asia, plus a general weakening of prices for packaging material. Export levels were sustained, helped by decreasing sea freight rates. OCC prices began the third quarter at levels...

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