October 21, 2025
Prices on publication-grade stocks are rising here at the end of 2025. Some paper mills have instituted a price increase that will take effect this month—representing a roughly 4% increase over current pricing—and we suspect others may follow.
Publication paper prices have been stable for the last eight months but are now being driven up by factors including: two major mill closures, which have reduced overall supply; inflation and high energy costs; and new tariff policies that are increasing the cost of imported materials.
Of note, U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber increased another 10% in October, putting the average tariff at 45% for lumber into the U.S. The weaker U.S. housing market and falling lumber prices are forcing some Canadian sawmills to curtail production, which limits the supply of—and raises prices for—wood chips used for domestic paper production.
We will continue to keep our customers informed of mill-announced price increases.