Containerboard prices show minor upticks in the GCC region

Stability was a key word on the recycled fiber-based containerboard market in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in October. It applied to the month’s testliner and fluting prices, old corrugated container (OCC) costs, containerboard demand and most contacts’ outlook for the rest of the year.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), multiple contacts said there had been discussions about price hikes of $20 per tonne for October, but that some buyers had countered with demands for price cuts. In the end, most sources said prices were unchanged or that only smaller increases were applied.

In Saudi Arabia, market participants painted a more mixed picture containing higher, lower, and stable prices depending on customer and starting point. Similar reports of stability and small movements were heard in the other GCC markets.

All in all, our PIX Testliner GCC index edged up by $2.21 per tonne, or by 0.46%, closing at $481.08 per tonne. PIX Fluting GCC rose by $2.85 per tonne, or by 0.63%, to $456.72 per tonne.

OCC prices remain high, freight costs decrease

The price increases this year have to a large extent been attributed to rising costs. This month, producers said that while local OCC prices have fluctuated a bit recently, they have yet to show any notable decent.

International freight rates, on the other hand, have been dropping. Drewry’s World Container Index fell by 48% between its most recent peak in July and October 24, after which it edged up by 4% to $3,213 per 40-feet container at the end of last week. This is similar to its level in early May, but the index remains some 93% above where it stood at the end of last year.

Contacts described containerboard demand as stable or healthy in Saudi Arabia in October. In the UAE, our sources said demand had improved after the summer slump. However, there was a certain lack of enthusiasm behind the answers, with several contacts adding they had hoped business would be better.

Importers eye the GCC, but tonnage limited

Mills in Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and some European countries have showed an interest in supplying testliner and fluting to GCC-based converters, contacts said, though there was little talk of any sizeable volumes. Several sources specifically mentioned Chinese-owned mills eyeing the region.

Indian producers continue to ship to the UAE, but given high OCC and freight costs, GCC-based contacts have talked relatively little about Indian tonnage these past months.

“There are some imports coming from here and there, but they are not significant in the landscape of competition today,” one contact summarized.

This was also one of the reasons many market participants did not expect much price change for the remainder of the year. In the words of one buyer: “We are fighting for a price reduction, but I know it is very difficult. The local mills are not threatened by any imports.”

The Saudi Arabian corrugating company Al Rabeh Pack is investing in a new factory near its existing plant in Jeddah. The firm will add a 2.5-meter-wide corrugator, with startup scheduled for February-March next year. By the end of 2026, Al Rabeh Pack plans to more than double its capacity to 11,000 tonnes per month.

PIX indices covering the two main recycled fiber-based containerboard grades, produced in and delivered to the GCC, were launched in June 2023. The GCC countries include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

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