Tuesday, September 24, 2013

More Mills Announce Uncoated Freesheet Price Increase

International Paper:
IP's increase is for Private Label imaging papers & Relay; Hammermill brand imaging papers; Hammermill Tidal MP; Hammermill Copy Plus; Hammermill Great White; Hammermill Fore MP; Hammermill Premium MP; Hammermill Colors; Hammermill Express Packs; Hewlett Packard brand imaging papers; HP Office (includes HP Quick Pack); HP Office Recycled; HP Copy; HP Copy & Print; HP Business Copy; HP Multipurpose; HP All-in-One; Williamsburg Rolls; Offset; Return Postcard; End Leaf; Cream White Publisher's Offset Rolls; Springhill Rolls & Sheets; Index; Tag; Vellum Bristol Cover; and Opaque Offset Colors.
NewPage:   
NewPage announced a $60/ton increase including $3.00/cwt in both US$ and C$ for the following uncoated roll products effective on all new and existing orders with confirmed delivery dates of Oct. 18 and later: Ideal Offset; Ideal Reply Card; and all NewPage Tablet Grades. The increase includes all basis weights, NewPage said.
Flambeau River:   
Effective with all shipments on or after Oct. 18, Flambeau River Papers set a $3.00/cwt $60/ton increase on FRP Offset; FRP Offset 30%, 50%, and 100% PCW; FRP Reply Card; FRP Glacier and Torchglow; FRP Torchglow Colors; FRP Tradebook Papers; FRP Index, Tag & Vellum Bristol; FRP MOCR; FRP Envelope; FRP RiverJet Wide Format InkJet Papers; and FRP Drawing Papers. All standard differentials and upcharges remain in effect, according to Flambeau. 
Twin Rivers:   
Effective with shipments on or after Nov. 1, Twin Rivers Paper announced a $60/ton price increase on all its Publishing, Label, and Packaging and Specialty grades.  
Domtar, Glatfelter and Boise increases were reported previously.

AF&PA Reports August P&W Ships

http://whattheythink.com/news/65535-american-forest-paper-association-releases-august-2013-printing-writing-paper-report/
The American Forest & Paper Association has released its August 2013 Printing-Writing Paper Report. 
According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 4 percent in August compared to August 2012. 
Additional key findings:
Coated mechanical (CM) shipments in August decreased 6 percent compared to August 2012. Shipments of CM are down 11 percent for the year, with imports up 4 percent year-over-year through July.
August coated free sheet (CFS) papers shipments decreased 5 percent compared to August 2012, with year-to-date shipments through August essentially flat compared to 2012. U.S. imports of CFS papers decreased 6 percent year-over-year in July. 
Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments decreased 3 percent in August. For the year, shipments are down 3 percent in 2013. U.S. exports of UFS papers in July increased year-over-year for the fourth consecutive month. 
August uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments decreased 7 percent when compared to August 2012, with year-over-year imports through June up 6 percent. UM exports are up 12 percent in 2013 compared to the first seven months of 2012.

Stora Enso Obtains Euro 140 Million Loan from EIB

http://www.storaenso.com/
Stora Enso has drawn a EUR 140 million seven-year loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to be used for research and development. The interest rate of the loan is 3.3%.
'Stora Enso invested EUR 81 million in research and development in 2012. The Group's R&D platforms include bio-based barriers, micro materials, composites, biochemistry and separation technology, and wood-based building solutions. About fifty patent applications were registered in 2012,' says Bernd Rettig, Senior Vice President, Group R&D and capital investments.

West Fraser Third Mill to Increase Pulp Price

West Fraser informed customers worldwide that its northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) market pulp prices will increase $20/tonne, effective October 1, RISI has learned.
West Fraser's $20/tonne increase would bring its NBSK list price to $970/tonne in North America. That's the same Oct. 1 list competitors Canfor Pulp and Domtar separately announced to US customers on Sept. 20.

Global Pulp Deliveries Rise

Global pulp deliveries edged up by 1.4% to 3.738 million tonnes in August, up from 3.686 million tonnes in July, according to Pulp and Paper Products Council (PPPC) data.
Shipments were 2.1% higher than in the year-earlier period, up from 3.660 million tonnes in August 2012.

Sappi Launches Educational Platform

http://www.piworld.com/article/sappi-fine-paper-north-america-launches-sappi-etc-microsite/1
Sappi Fine Paper North America announced today the launch of its Sappi etc. microsite, an online educational platform providing access to more than a century's worth of rare historical documents, detailed case studies and expert technical advice as a part of the company's Education, Training and Consulting (etc) program. Free and fully searchable, the Sappi etc. site covers everything from paper basics and sustainability resources to advanced print and design techniques, including color management, printer tech tips, special effects, varnishes, folding, and designing for direct mail.

Hearst Launches Its First Native Ad Campaign

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/209756/harpers-bazaar-launches-first-native-ad-campaig.html#axzz2fqLy98Ba
Hearst launched its first native advertising campaign on Harper's Bazaar with Nordstrom promoting the latest UGG Collection to foster strong conversations between the publisher, brands and consumers.
The campaign, Nordstrom/UGG Trend Collage, highlights a brand-specific photo grid around a topic. The native ad format resembles a Pinterest pinboard that editors curate or built with advertiser images and text.

Troy Young Is Reinventing Hearst Digital

http://adage.com/article/media/troy-young-reinventing-hearst-digital-wrecking-ball/244275/
Unlike his buttoned-up peers in the executive suite at Hearst, Troy Young doesn't keep an office, nor does he wear designer suits to work. Rumors have even spread that he insisted on a contract provision saying he didn't need to wear a necktie. He says there's nothing about ties in the contract -- though he claims to not own any.

Magazine Ad Spend Up 10% in August; 15% YTD

http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?cat=296
That’s according to Standard Media Index estimates (research from agencies representing 60% of total U.S. media agency spend). YTD, magazines have a 5.5% share of measured-media ad spend, SMI reports.
MediaPost MediaDailyNews

Condé Nast Traveler Makes Marketing Push

http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?cat=296
With a new editor and publisher, Condé Nast Traveler is out shopping a new version of itself. There’s a new advertising campaign (estimated budget $1.5M) that stresses the sex appeal of travel and is supposed to appeal to affluent jet-setters.   

SpinMedia Elects New CEO

http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?cat=296 
SpinMedia’s board has elected Dale Strang CEO of the company, replacing Steve Hansen. In a statement, SpinMedia said: “Strang, previously general manager of Vibe, has deep experience in digital media–including executive positions at IGN and Ziff Davis—that the Board believes will be instrumental in moving the company forward to maximize its growth potential and profitability.
MediaBistro

Holiday Sales to Rise 4-4.5%

http://www.jckonline.com/2013/09/24/holiday-sales-to-rise-4-percent-forecast-says
Deloitte's Retail & Distribution practice expects total holiday sales to climb 4 to 4.5 percent this year. That would be on par with last year's 4.5 percent gain, Deloitte said.
Daniel Bachman, Deloitte's senior U.S. economist, said in a statement that “rising home prices with steady job creation may buoy consumers' confidence in the economy and create a wealth effect.”
Additionally, Deloitte forecasts a 12.5 to 13 percent increase in non-store sales—with nearly three quarters of those sales coming from online, and the rest coming from catalogs and interactive TV.