Negotiations that a variety of paper producers have been conducting since the second quarter with the goal of charging more for decor paper have encountered further delays. While decor paper prices had already been amended gradually in recent months in contracts tied to the trend in pulp prices through price adjustment clauses, mark-ups sought for contracts negotiated on a case-by-case basis were not implemented until the past few weeks. A number of decor paper manufacturers reported that a few decor printers, in particular, had tried to drag out discussions. This strategy was partly successfull, and plans to implement higher prices in July have thus been pushed back until August or September. Nonetheless, a few decor paper manufacturers have managed to wrap up negotiations for the most part. New prices are to apply to paper produced in August or to deliveries from September. Other producers will not invoice more until October deliveries in some instances. Buyers said that some producers were more flexible and had not altered their prices much. Therefore, average mark-ups implemented now amount to €5-7/100 kg and are slightly lower than the original goal of up to €10/100 kg. Prices for less filled white and single-shade paper and for printing base paper rose a little more than prices for high-filled decor paper because of their high pulp content. However, price increases of €10/100kg sought by several manufacturers were achieved in only isolated cases for decor paper with a lower ash content. The price hikes now set in stone will bring prices for 80 g high-filled white decor paper to an average of €205-210/100 kg over the coming weeks. The new prices typically apply until the end of the third quarter. Decor paper manufacturers presently think that prices will be carried forward into the fourth quarter, given looming stability in pulp costs and virtually unchanged titanium dioxide prices.
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