Feedback was received regarding North American prices published by Fastmarkets. Thus far, a majority of buyers and sellers have indicated plans to invoice/settle tariffs separately from the actual price for physical material rather than negotiating a price inclusive of all import duties.
Fastmarkets therefore proposes to continue to publish all delivered US price assessments net of tariffs. Specifics of the markets most likely to be affected are detailed below.
Market pulp
Market pulp grades potentially affected by US tariffs on Canadian imports include northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK), northern bleached hardwood kraft (NBHK) and unbleached softwood kraft (UKP) produced in Canada and shipped to the US. These price assessments would continue to be published net of tariffs. For clarification, tariffs would not be included in the assessed delivered prices.
Recovered paper
Recovered paper price assessments in the US are reported on an FOB seller’s dock for delivery basis, so they are published net of tariffs.
Paper and board
Paper and board grades potentially affected by US tariffs on Canadian imports include newsprint, containerboard, printing and writing paper, boxboard and kraft packaging paper. All domestic paper and board grades specified as delivered US would continue to be assessed net of tariffs. For clarification, tariffs would not be included in the assessed delivered prices.
Mexico imports
Should Mexico introduce reciprocal tariffs on imports from the US, Fastmarkets proposes the following:
Uncoated and coated graphic paper imported to Mexico from the US is sold on a DAP basis and therefore would not include tariffs or other duties.
Export FOB prices at the Laredo, Texas, border crossing for boxboard to Mexico and for unbleached kraft linerboard to Mexico would also continue to be assessed net of any tariffs.
Fastmarkets will hold a consultation period for this proposal from March 7 until March 31. The decision, once market feedback is reviewed, will be communicated and implemented on April 2, 2025.
To provide feedback on this proposal or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter to these prices, please contact Gregory Rudder by email at pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “FAO: Greg Rudder, re: North American pulp and paper tariffs.”
Please indicate if comments are confidential. Fastmarkets will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.
To see all Fastmarkets pricing methodology and specification documents, go to https://www.fastmarkets.com/methodology.
