Pulp Buyers Face $50 Per Ton Hike in Europe, U.S.
Paper, packaging and hygiene converters buying hardwood pulp will see higher input costs starting in November 2026.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Inflation
Suzano, the world's largest pulp manufacturer, is raising hardwood pulp prices by $50 per metric ton in Europe and North America, lifting the European reference list price to $1,410 per metric ton from $1,360. The change is implemented through the reference list price and is scheduled for November 2026.
Why it matters
Pulp is a core input for paper, packaging and hygiene products, so a $50 per metric ton increase raises input costs for converters and printers that buy hardwood pulp in these regions. It follows earlier October 2026 increases of $50 per metric ton for the Americas and $20 per metric ton for Asia, which signals a sequenced, region-by-region repricing rather than a single one-off adjustment.
The European reference list price moves from $1,360 to $1,410 per metric ton, a 3.7% increase, following $50 per metric ton in the Americas and $20 per metric ton in Asia in October 2026. Suzano's Arbex joint venture with Kimberly-Clark operates 22 mills in 14 markets across five continents.
The players
Suzano
Suzano is the largest pulp manufacturer in the world and a Brazilian company that also operates paperboard mills in the United States.
Arbex
Arbex is a joint venture with Kimberly-Clark that operates 22 mills in 14 markets across five continents and serves family care and professional product portfolios in about 70 countries.
Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark is a global consumer products company that co-owns Arbex with Suzano and uses its pulp in family care and professional products.
The details
Suzano implements the increase by changing the reference list price for hardwood pulp in Europe, which sets the baseline for pricing to buyers in that region. The same mechanism applies to North America, where the company is also raising prices by $50 per metric ton. Buyers should expect the new reference price to flow into contract negotiations and invoices as the change takes effect in November 2026.
Timeline
October 2026: Suzano raised hardwood pulp prices by $50 per metric ton for the Americas and $20 per metric ton for Asia.
November 2026: The $50 per metric ton increase for Europe and North America is implemented through the reference list price change.
Market Landscape
Suzano's regional repricing sequence, with $50 increases for the Americas and Europe and North America and $20 for Asia, shows the world's largest pulp producer setting prices region by region through reference list adjustments. The pattern places pulp suppliers in a position to pass cost changes through to converters across multiple markets in a single quarter.
Buyers of hardwood pulp in Europe and North America should expect the reference list price to rise by $50 per metric ton in November 2026, which raises input costs for paper and packaging operations. Procurement and finance teams should review pulp contracts and pricing terms with their suppliers and qualified accountants before the change takes effect.
The takeaway
The key operating insight is that pulp suppliers are repricing by region in sequence, so buyers in each market may see different timing and amounts. Procurement teams should confirm the new European and North American reference prices against current contracts and track any further supplier announcements in the coming months.
Further reading
For broader context on how input cost increases feed through to consumer prices, see the Inflation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pulpapernews.
