MARKET ANALYSIS
Caution despite
brief surge
While the secondary paper market experienced higher prices due to political
uncertainties in December, the broader outlook remains cautious – especially with
Donald Trump back in the White House.
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A U T H O R Robin Latchem P H O T O Shutterstock
As December 2024 began, the global
secondary paper market faced signifi-
cant challenges, particularly for mills in
the Far East. Reports indicated that
many of these mills were aggressively
pushing prices down, creating a diffi-
cult environment for suppliers and
traders alike. Orders were scarce,
leading to a bleak outlook for January.
The prevailing sentiment was one of
caution.
However, a remarkable shift occurred
in mid-December when prices for
January began to rise rapidly. This
change was largely attributed to the
impending inauguration of President
Trump. The prospect of potential tar-
iffs raised concerns about the accessi-
bility of materials, prompting many
buyers to secure their supplies ahead
of anticipated price increases.
In contrast, the European market has
continued to struggle. Over the past
several months, there has been a
noticeable sluggishness, with many
industry players expressing a collective
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