Jun 24, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Sweden-based Sodra said that it will increase the price for its softwood pulp grades by $30 to $660 per ton for all deliveries from July 1, PaperAge reports. The price hike comes on the heels of a $30 increase on June 1. Sodra noted that the supply/demand balance has improved in the pulp markets as inventory levels decreased during the first half of the year. Sodra is the world's third largest supplier of market pulp. The company operates five pulp mills – three in Sweden and two in Norway – with a total capacity of 2.1 million tons per year, of which just over 100,000 tons is mechanical pulp (CTMP) and the rest bleached sulphate pulp. Sodra's entire pulp production is sold on the open market. Another Swedish pulp producer, Botnia, also announced that it will increase the price of bleached birch and bleached eucalyptus pulp in Europe by $30 to $530 per ton, effective immediately.