Hardwood fiber costs for pulp mills worldwide increased modestly at the end of 2020 but were still substantially lower in many markets compared to late 2019
Increased demand for hardwood fiber in key pulp-producing countries and a weaker US dollar resulted in higher hardwood pulplogs prices in the 4Q/20. The Global Hardwood Fiber Price Index (HFPI) was up 1.4% from the 3Q/20 to the 4Q/20, the second q-o-q increase of the US dollar denoted Index from its 15-year low in the 2Q/20. Prices rose the most in Latin America and Indonesia, while the price gains were more modest in North America and Central Europe. Despite prices increases during the second half of 2020, hardwood pulplog costs were substantially lower in the 4Q/20 than in the 4Q/19 in