Canadian
newsprint maker Kruger confirmed today that it will hike the price of 30-lb
(48.8 gsm) newsprint by $40/tonne effective July 1. Kruger is the
second-largest newsprint maker by capacity in North America.
White Birch, North America's third-largest
newsprint maker by capacity behind Resolute Forest Products and Kruger,
announced a similar price increase on May 30. Contacts said late last week they
expected Montreal-based Kruger would match the White Birch hike.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Two More Pulp Mills Raise Prices
Resolute
Forest Products (Resolute) announced to North American customers that it would
increase prices $20/tonne on benchmark northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK)
pulp, effective June 1 until further notice. It also set hikes on three other
key grades of market pulp.
Montreal-headquartered
Resolute announced its June 1 price for NBSK at $950/tonne, up $20/tonne. It
set southern bleached softwood kraft at $910/tonne, also up $20/tonne.http://alpac.ca/
Alberta-Pacific
(Alpac) announced a $20/tonne price increase on northern bleached hardwood
kraft (NBHK) and northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) market pulp in North
America, effective June 1 until further notice.
Vancouver-headquartered
Alpac Pulp Sales slated its aspen grade NBHK at $880/tonne with the $20tonne
increase.
Domtar Completes Acquisition of Xerox's Paper, Print Media Business
Domtar
Corporation today announced the completion of its acquisition of Xerox's paper
and print media products business in the United States and Canada, pursuant to
an agreement entered into on March 21, 2013.
The
transaction includes a broad range of coated and uncoated papers and specialty
print media including business forms, carbonless as well as wide-format paper
formerly distributed by Xerox.The addition of a globally-recognized brand to Domtar's existing portfolio of high quality, sustainability-driven paper products will allow the Company to better serve its customers.
April Chinese RCP Imports Up, Pulp Slips
China's
recovered paper (RCP) imports rose 2.1% to around 2.663 million tonnes in
April, up from some 2.609 million tonnes in the previous month, according to
data from China Customs.
April's
figure was 1.3% higher than the 2.628 million tonnes recorded in April 2012. Total RCP imports in the first four months came in at 9.856 million tonnes, almost the same amount as the year-earlier period.
China's
total pulp imports slipped 0.2% in April compared to the previous month,
dipping to nearly 1.487 million tonnes, according to data from China Customs.
The
April decrease was ascribed to a 9.0% drop in bleached softwood kraft (BSK)
pulp imports, while intake of bleached hardwood kraft (BHK) pulp surged 17.3%.
Q1 Global Forest Industry
The Global Forest Industry in the 1Q/2013: Excerpts from the Wood Resource Quarterly
Global Timber Markets
• Sawlog prices were up in practically all regions covered by the WRQ in the 1Q/13, but they were still generally lower than they were in the 1Q/12. The biggest increases from the previous quarter occurred in Western US, Latvia, Finland and Sweden. The Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) was up 2.4 percent to US$86.33/m3 from the 4Q/12, the biggest quarter-to-quarter increase since early 2011.
Global Pulpwood Prices
• Wood fiber prices were generally down in North America and up in the rest of the world during the 1Q/13. The Softwood Wood Fiber Price Index (SFPI) in the 1Q/13 was practically unchanged at $99.90/odmt from the 4Q/12. The SFPI has inched downward for seven consecutive quarters and is currently down 8.8 percent from the most recent peak in 2Q/11. The biggest changes in US dollar
terms in the 1Q/13 were the declines in chip prices in Eastern Canada (-12.4%),
Japan (-8.6%), Western Canada (-7.8%) and the US Northwest (-4.2%). The biggest increases came in France (+10%) and Germany (+6.9%).
(WRI Wood Resources International LLC, Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ))
Global Timber Markets
• Sawlog prices were up in practically all regions covered by the WRQ in the 1Q/13, but they were still generally lower than they were in the 1Q/12. The biggest increases from the previous quarter occurred in Western US, Latvia, Finland and Sweden. The Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) was up 2.4 percent to US$86.33/m3 from the 4Q/12, the biggest quarter-to-quarter increase since early 2011.
Global Pulpwood Prices
• Wood fiber prices were generally down in North America and up in the rest of the world during the 1Q/13. The Softwood Wood Fiber Price Index (SFPI) in the 1Q/13 was practically unchanged at $99.90/odmt from the 4Q/12. The SFPI has inched downward for seven consecutive quarters and is currently down 8.8 percent from the most recent peak in 2Q/11. The biggest changes in US dollar
terms in the 1Q/13 were the declines in chip prices in Eastern Canada (-12.4%),
Japan (-8.6%), Western Canada (-7.8%) and the US Northwest (-4.2%). The biggest increases came in France (+10%) and Germany (+6.9%).
(WRI Wood Resources International LLC, Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ))
Introduction to Chinese Commercial Printing Sector
A brief introduction of the Chinese graphic paper end-use market - commercial printing sector: The commercial printing sector, which includes catalogs, directories, inserts, direct mails and other types of promotional and sales materials, began growing as a graphic paper end-use market in China just in the past decade. After fairly slow development in the first five years (2001-2005), its growth rate almost doubled to 4.2%, driven by the solid improvement in China's real estate market and car sales resulting from the country's healthy economic development. Nevertheless, it is still only about half size of the European market and just over one-third of the size of the North American market. The total commercial printing market in 2011 reached about 4.2 million tonnes, an 800,000 tonne gain from 3.4 million tonnes in 2006.
Although the commercial printing sector uses all types of graphic paper grades, from standard newsprint to triple-coated woodfree paper, the dominant grade in 2011 was coated woodfree, with a market share of 52% or 2.2 million tonnes, followed by uncoated woodfree at 35% or 1.5 million tonnes of paper. Mechanical printing & writing grades have a share of around 11% in total, or a total volume of around 500,000 tonnes. This is quite small compared to shares in the European market (38% or 3.1 million tonnes) and the North American market (53% or 5.7 million tonnes). A very small portion (less than 2%) of newsprint is used in this end-use sector.
(RISI)
Although the commercial printing sector uses all types of graphic paper grades, from standard newsprint to triple-coated woodfree paper, the dominant grade in 2011 was coated woodfree, with a market share of 52% or 2.2 million tonnes, followed by uncoated woodfree at 35% or 1.5 million tonnes of paper. Mechanical printing & writing grades have a share of around 11% in total, or a total volume of around 500,000 tonnes. This is quite small compared to shares in the European market (38% or 3.1 million tonnes) and the North American market (53% or 5.7 million tonnes). A very small portion (less than 2%) of newsprint is used in this end-use sector.
(RISI)
Steve Swartz Takes Helm at Hearst
Steve
Swartz is a veteran of Hearst's print business, but as he takes over as CEO this week, he underscored ways the
leading magazine company is adapting its products to digital formats.
Swartz,
the former head of Hearst's newspaper business and for the past two years, its
chief operating officer, officially succeeded Frank Bennack Jr. June 1 as chief
executive of the privately run company.At a time when traditional media is challenged to keep up with the digital revolution, Swartz emphasized in a note to employees that the 126-year-old company was constantly reinvigorating its mature businesses.
Hearst Names Uden VP, Digital Marketing
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/201660/hearst-names-uden-vp-digital-marketing.html#axzz2VBdl6kSZ
Hearst Magazines on Monday named Klas Uden as its new VP of digital and acquisition marketing.
“Klas is a master at driving revenue for multiplatform brands,” said Liberta Abbondante, senior vice president of consumer marketing at Hearst Magazines.
Uden comes from Dow Jones & Company, where he most recently served as vice president of consumer marketing.
Hearst Magazines on Monday named Klas Uden as its new VP of digital and acquisition marketing.
“Klas is a master at driving revenue for multiplatform brands,” said Liberta Abbondante, senior vice president of consumer marketing at Hearst Magazines.
Uden comes from Dow Jones & Company, where he most recently served as vice president of consumer marketing.
In that role, he developed integrated print and digital marketing programs
across the company’s consumer properties, including The Wall
Street Journal and WSJ.com; Barron’s
magazine and Barrons.com; and SmartMoney and MarketWatch
branded newsletters.
Magazine Audiences Grow
Magazine ad pages may be declining, but their
print readership isn’t, according to the latest data from GfK MRI, which found
that the total audience for American consumer magazines increased 2.36% from
1.19 billion in spring 2012 to 1.21 billion in spring 2013. The spring 2013
figure is also up 1.12% from 1.2 billion in fall 2012.
Out of 182 magazines measured by GfK MRI, 113, or 62% of the total, showed year-over-year increases in print audience size from spring 2012 to spring 2013.
Out of 182 magazines measured by GfK MRI, 113, or 62% of the total, showed year-over-year increases in print audience size from spring 2012 to spring 2013.
Fernhurst Books Acquires Nautical Titles from Wiley's
Fernhust Books today announced that it has acquired assets from John Wiley
& Sons, Inc.'s (NYSE: JWa, JWb) nautical consumer publishing program. The
terms of the acquisition, which closed 31 May 2013, were not disclosed.
Fernhurst acquired the digital and print assets for approximately 180 Wiley titles from its consumer nautical publishing programs. Among the titles purchased are such classics as the bestselling Rules in Practice, the Ultimate Adventure series and Cruising Companions.
Fernhurst acquired the digital and print assets for approximately 180 Wiley titles from its consumer nautical publishing programs. Among the titles purchased are such classics as the bestselling Rules in Practice, the Ultimate Adventure series and Cruising Companions.
Woody Biomass Transportation Fuels Way to Reduce Emissions
Two processes that turn woody biomass into transportation fuels
have the potential to exceed current Environmental Protection Agency
requirements for renewable fuels, according to research published in the Forest
Products Journal and currently featured on its publications
page.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s standard for emissions from wood-based
transportation fuels requires a 60 percent reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions compared to using fossil fuels. The standards don’t just concern greenhouse
gases generated when biofuel is burned to run vehicles or provide energy:
What’s required is life-cycle analysis, a tally of emissions all along the
growing, collecting, producing and shipping chain.
NAPL Economists: Print Consolidation
NAPL Economists: New Breed of Nimble Competitors Entering Printing ...:
The commercial printing industry continues to show significant consolidation. Based on the latest establishment data from the Bureau of the Census and NAPL estimates, the number of establishments in the commercial printing industry declined by almost 12,500 or 33.0% between 2012 and 1998—using 2007 as the base, the decline amounts to 5,500 establishments or almost 18%. These numbers provide information on the industry’s overall consolidation in terms of companies, and significantly fewer companies should translate into more business for survivors.
But establishment counts are just part of the story, they represent the net result of company births and deaths, so they do not provide information on the number of companies entering the industry. While the total number of companies continues to decline because the industry death rate is almost double the annual birth rate—see the chart below—we should not simply focus on the net result.
The commercial printing industry continues to show significant consolidation. Based on the latest establishment data from the Bureau of the Census and NAPL estimates, the number of establishments in the commercial printing industry declined by almost 12,500 or 33.0% between 2012 and 1998—using 2007 as the base, the decline amounts to 5,500 establishments or almost 18%. These numbers provide information on the industry’s overall consolidation in terms of companies, and significantly fewer companies should translate into more business for survivors.
But establishment counts are just part of the story, they represent the net result of company births and deaths, so they do not provide information on the number of companies entering the industry. While the total number of companies continues to decline because the industry death rate is almost double the annual birth rate—see the chart below—we should not simply focus on the net result.
Without Five-Day Delivery, Will Rates Go Up
Without Five-Day Delivery, Will Rates Increase for Mailers?:
When the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced in February a plan to eliminate mail delivery on Saturday, mailers approved. Many told Direct Marketing News that by and large such a schedule would not significantly affect the logistics of their business; more important, mailers hoped that the revamped schedule, originally set to go into affect August 5 and which was estimated to save the USPS $2 billion annually, would reduce the chances of an exigent rate increase.
But on April 9, the USPS Board of Governors (BOG) discussed a restriction in a Continuing Resolution (CR) passed in March by Congress. The CR effectively stated that funding of the USPS is dependent on mail service continuing at 1984 levels. Consequently, the new national delivery schedule is, at least temporarily, off the table.
When the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced in February a plan to eliminate mail delivery on Saturday, mailers approved. Many told Direct Marketing News that by and large such a schedule would not significantly affect the logistics of their business; more important, mailers hoped that the revamped schedule, originally set to go into affect August 5 and which was estimated to save the USPS $2 billion annually, would reduce the chances of an exigent rate increase.
But on April 9, the USPS Board of Governors (BOG) discussed a restriction in a Continuing Resolution (CR) passed in March by Congress. The CR effectively stated that funding of the USPS is dependent on mail service continuing at 1984 levels. Consequently, the new national delivery schedule is, at least temporarily, off the table.
CBS Takes Full Ownership of TV Guide Digital
CBS Corp. has acquired TV Guide Digital, whose assets include TVGuide.com and TV Guide mobile.
Under terms of the deal, CBS bought the remaining 50% stake in TV Guide's digital assets from Los Angeles-based Lionsgate. Terms were not disclosed.The acquisition separates the online and mobile versions of TV Guide from a joint-venture partnership the broadcaster entered into this spring with Lionsgate to operate TV Guide Network, a basic cable network that reaches 80 million homes but struggles with low ratings.
How to Fix the Post Office
How to Fix the Post Office: Keep the ‘Last Mile,’ Outsource the Rest:
A proposal to create a “hybrid” United States Postal Service would keep postal workers on their routes while allowing private companies to compete for mail collection, transportation, and processing. Now all it needs is a divided Congress and a reluctant postmaster general to sign off on it.
A new study released today by a non-partisan Washington think tank recommends a radical departure for the struggling United States Postal Service: a public-private partnership that would open up much of the service’s back-end logistics to outside competition.
A proposal to create a “hybrid” United States Postal Service would keep postal workers on their routes while allowing private companies to compete for mail collection, transportation, and processing. Now all it needs is a divided Congress and a reluctant postmaster general to sign off on it.
A new study released today by a non-partisan Washington think tank recommends a radical departure for the struggling United States Postal Service: a public-private partnership that would open up much of the service’s back-end logistics to outside competition.
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