Cellulose Specialties and High-Yield Pulp Prices to Increase, Paperboard Prices Expected to Decline
Rayonier Advanced Materials announced on Tuesday their expectations for pricing trends in 2024. According to the company, prices for cellulose specialties and high-yield pulp are projected to rise, while prices for paperboard are anticipated to decrease.
High Purity Cellulose Outlook
Rayonier anticipates that the average sales prices for cellulose specialties will see a low single-digit percentage increase this year compared to 2023. The demand for the company’s cellulose specialties is expected to vary, with acetate facing moderate destocking and ethers volumes showing signs of improvement, albeit at levels lower than historical averages.
The company also mentioned that demand for its commodity products remains strong. Fluff and viscose prices are forecasted to see improvement from the fourth quarter of 2023, although not reaching the levels seen earlier in 2023.
Paperboard Outlook
Regarding paperboard prices, Rayonier foresees a slight decrease in pricing this year compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. However, sales volumes are expected to increase. The company highlighted that raw material prices are expected to rise due to forecasted increases in purchased pulp prices from the end of 2023.
High-Yield Pulp
In terms of high-yield pulp, Rayonier projects an increase in prices in the first quarter of this year. The company attributes this rise to capturing the value of higher index pricing from late 2023. Additionally, sales volumes are anticipated to rise in the first quarter as production is scaled up to meet customer demand.
