Coated Groundwood Prices on the Upswing, Poll Says

Coated groundwood prices in the U.S. are not only headed up, they will increase again in July, a majority of respondents to a Dead Tree Edition poll predicted.

Of the 58 respondents, 12 voted that the RISI index for 40# coated #5 would increase by $65 or more from the current (February) number of $735. Another 19 voted for a $35 to $65 increase -- which is also larger than the second-quarter increase of $30 that has been announced by nearly all mills.

Only 10 people (17%) predicted that prices would decrease. Another 17 predicted that CGW prices would rise less than $35 per ton.