Australian LWC users are bracing for a second hike in the price of locally-made stock following notification of a $25 per tonne increase in New Zealand.
The threat of increases follow conversion of a newsprint machine at the Boyer mill to produce LWC, which users had hoped might insulate prices.
Norske Skog says the NZ price will increase from October 1 and that prices in Australia "will also be reviewed over the next few months".
Making the announcement, sales and marketing vice president Andrew McKean acknowledged that Australian LWC prices had increased in July this year, but said the need for further rises was driven by higher input costs resulting from the ongoing weakening of the Australian dollar and the recently announced price increases in Europe.
Norske Skog would keep customers informed of developments but most were already aware of changes in the market. He said he was "unable to quantify the likely 2016 Australian price increase at this stage".