NBSK vs SBSK vs BHKP — Pulp Grades Explained

Buying market pulp for the first time? Here are the three grades you'll see most often on invoices — in plain English.

NBSK — Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft - Made from northern softwood species (spruce, pine, fir) - **Long fibres** = excellent tear and burst strength - Best used as **reinforcement pulp** in paper machines - Brightness: 88-90% ISO - Primary source: **Canada, Nordic countries, Russia**

SBSK — Southern Bleached Softwood Kraft - Made from southern softwoods (US southern pine) - Shorter fibres than NBSK, still strong - Cheaper alternative to NBSK - Primary source: **USA**

BHKP / BEK — Bleached Hardwood Kraft (usually Eucalyptus) - Made from eucalyptus (BEK) or mixed hardwoods (BHKP) - **Short fibres** = excellent formation, smoothness, opacity - Perfect for fine paper, tissue, and printing paper - Primary source: **Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Indonesia**

How to choose? Most paper machines run a **furnish blend** — e.g., 30% NBSK + 70% BHKP for fine paper. Talk to your paper machine engineer, or reach out and our trade desk will recommend based on your product.