The British cartonboard market: Tullis Russell administration prompts hectic buying in a few board sectors

The British cartonboard market does not appear to want to settle down. The news of Tullis Russell entering administration caught many market players by surprise at the end of April. Market insiders estimate that Tullis Russell made about 50,000-70,000 t of board (mainly SBS, but also GC I and speciality products). Board manufacturers able to offer alternatives reported frenetic times in May when Tullis Russell customers tried to find replacement products at short notice. "It will likely get difficult to source a few speciality products,” one market expert thinks.