market analysis
China import
deadline nears
Markets already affected by
Covid-19 uncertainties are
preparing for Beijing’s ‘new
normal’.
metric tonnes of recovered fibre to
enter Chinese ports.
Meanwhile, Turkey made headlines
the same month when it announced
that domestic paper (and plastic) recy-
clers would only be allowed a maxi-
mum of 50% imported feedstock in
62
Brighter news for paper scrap export-
ers came in mid-September with the
latest batch of imported scrap quotas
issued by the Chinese authorities,
which were more generous compared
to some previous ones this year. The
12th batch permits more than 730 000
their capacity. Previously the figure
was 80%.
In Europe, the summer exports market
was stable, especially for the lower
grades with decent demand driving
most prices up by about US$ 20 per
tonne compared to the start of the
season. By September the market was
more on hold with mills in Asia watch-
ing whether China would keep buying.
Many mills were buying small volumes
and prices went down by around US$
10. European mills were said to be
buying good volume so, with not
much stock around, it is unlikely that
European prices will crash.
High grades have slowed down in
Europe. Price drops of around US$ 30
62-63_mapaper.indd 62 28-09-20 16:32
