We are announcing a US$30/metric tonne (for 48.8 gsm) newsprint price increase to be phased in over two months. The price will increase US$15/metric tonne (for 48.8 gsm) effective with shipments on or after December 1, 2017 and a second US$15/metric tonne (for 48.8 gsm) increase will be implemented with shipments on or after January 1, 2018. Other basis weights will be adjusted accordingly. Please note that this price increase does not apply to Ponderay Newsprint Company.

Canada’s lumber industry has been able to survive the impacts of preliminary duties, largely thanks to soaring lumber prices. While industry production will remain virtually flat this year, industry revenues are on pace to grow by 8 per cent, according to The Conference Board of Canada’s Canadian Industrial Outlook: Wood Products Manufacturing – Autumn 2017. “Lumber prices are at their highest levels in over a decade due to a perfect storm of factors, including supply constraints in B.C. from the wildfires this summer, and increased demand from a recovering U.S. housing market and rebuilding efforts in hurricane-affected regions,” said Michael Burt, Director, Industrial Trends, The Conference Board of Canada. “The surging lumber prices are providing a welcome relief from the costs of the lumber duties imposed by the U.S., but this is not likely to last.” Click Read More below for additional information.

According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 21 percent in September compared to September 2019. U.S. purchases of total printing-writing papers decreased 20 percent in September compared to the same month last year. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased seven percent when compared to August 2020. Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments decreased 19 percent compared to September 2019 while the inventory level decreased six percent compared to August 2020. UFS imports and exports both decreased compared to August 2019, down 18 percent and 40 percent respectively. U.S. purchases of coated free sheet (CFS) papers in September decreased 12 percent compared to last September while the inventory level decreased 10 percent compared to August 2020. CFS imports and exports both decreased compared to August 2019, down 36 percent and 27 percent respectively. Coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments decreased 31 percent compared to September 2019 while the inventory level increased two percent compared to August 2020. CM imports decreased 30 percent while exports increased five percent in August 2020. U.S. purchases of uncoated mechanical (UM) papers in September decreased 28 percent compared to last September while the inventory level decreased eight percent compared to August 2020. UM imports and exports both decreased compared to August 2019, down 15 percent and 44 percent respectively.