Mid-month March, I was talking about stock market turmoil. I am still focused on turmoil, but in the recycled fiber market. This has been going on since late last year (for this round, anyway). It has happened before and will happen again.

If you are too young to remember 1995, when many recycled projects carried the promise of negative-cost fiber and high-priced recycled pulp, perhaps a review with your elder peers is in order. What disturbs me now is that I hear rumors of companies making long-term mill operations decisions based on the recycled fiber prices of the last quarter. This is just plain wrong. Look at long-term supply and demand trends in your grades if you want to see where to go. This may take fortitude, but it will make you a winner in the long run.