Chinese authorities released the 4th lot of recovered paper import permit for year 2019. To the surprise of many, the 4th lot, totaling 9,720 metric tons, was allocated only to Fuxing Paper Co. Ltd. in Jiangsu Province, Eastern China. As required, the company would break the allocation into 5 equal volume orders, each at 1,940 metric tons in making purchases overseas.

Under growing concerns on overall volume reduction in the import permits for year 2019, which was in preparation for China’s final stop of recovered paper imports possibly by 2020, the strikingly small volume of the 4th lot could be a signal to the beginning of the process, some market observers feared.