What is the expected range for OCC prices in the longer term
ment by hand. And we're building technology tools that will help us do that and make better trade off decisions.
Mark Connelly -- Stephens, Inc. -- Analyst
That's super. I appreciate it. I mean obviously IP has been a leader in that space. It's nice to see you making even more progress.
Operator
And we do have time for one last question. And our last question will come from the line of Neel Kumar with Morgan Stanley.
Neel Kumar -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
Hi, good morning. In terms of the OCC prices, we've seen them to start run up a bit recently. Can you just give us a sense of your expectations for how OCC prices evolved through 2021 as well as longer term? And then in terms of China's ban of OCC imports, it seems that since it's already facing a shortage of fiber, do you have any thoughts on whether China's ban will stick and how they'll address their fiber needs going forward?
Mark S. Sutton -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
We couldn't hear exactly. I think you asked about OCC prices but you broke up a little bit at the beginning of your question. Is that what you were asking, OCC prices?
Neel Kumar -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
Yes. I was just asking about what your price expectations are for OCC in 2021 and the longer-term.
Tim S. Nicholls -- Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Now 2021, the crystal ball is not that clear going out toward the second half of the year. In the quarter, we expect the trend that we saw in the fourth quarter to continue in the first. And so on average, I think we're expecting $15 to $20, maybe a little bit more than that on OCC. But it really will depend. It's such a fast reacting market to circumstances and conditions. So we'll have to see what happens as we're going from first into second quarter.
Neel Kumar -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
Great. And then just in terms of China's ban of key imports. So you think that's going to stick or how they're going to address their fiber needs going forward?
Tim S. Nicholls -- Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Well, we -- again we always have said, we take them at their word, and I think you've already seen the market beginning to adjust, adjusting last year and maybe even late 2019 in anticipation of this. So I think you see some of that rotation from one fiber tie to another in China and you see a rebalancing across other export markets for OCC. So yes, I think that probably stays in place.
Neel Kumar -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
Great. Thank you.
Tim S. Nicholls -- Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Thank you.
Mark S. Sutton -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
So thanks everyone for joining us today, and for the call -- for the questions, excuse me. Just a closing comment. We are excited about what's in front of us with International Paper. We have strong demand in packaging in cellulose fibers business. Our Paper business is recovering. We're still not gating the pandemic but as I said in my comments, I have total confidence in our employees to be able to continue to do that. We have improving market conditions. And so we're excited about the way 2021 is going to unfold and lead us into a very strong position as we enter 2022, and what I'm very hopeful is a pandemic-free economic playing field. So thank you again for your interest in International Paper.
Operator
[Operator Closing Remarks]
Duration: 62 minutes
Call participants:
Guillermo Gutierrez -- Vice President, Investor Relations
Mark S. Sutton -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Tim S. Nicholls -- Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Philip Ng -- Jefferies Group -- Analyst
Gabe Hajde -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst
Mark Wilde -- Bank of Montreal -- Analyst
George Staphos -- Bank of America -- Analyst
Anthony Pettinari -- Citigroup Inc. -- Analyst
Adam Josephson -- KeyBanc Capital Markets -- Analyst
Mark Weintraub -- Seaport Global Holdings -- Analyst
Mark Connelly -- Stephens, Inc. -- Analyst
Neel Kumar -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
More IP analysis
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ment by hand. And we're building technology tools that will help us do that and make better trade off decisions.
Mark Connelly -- Stephens, Inc. -- Analyst
That's super. I appreciate it. I mean obviously IP has been a leader in that space. It's nice to see you making even more progress.
Operator
And we do have time for one last question. And our last question will come from the line of Neel Kumar with Morgan Stanley.
Neel Kumar -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
Hi, good morning. In terms of the OCC prices, we've seen them to start run up a bit recently. Can you just give us a sense of your expectations for how OCC prices evolved through 2021 as well as longer term? And then in terms of China's ban of OCC imports, it seems that since it's already facing a shortage of fiber, do you have any thoughts on whether China's ban will stick and how they'll address their fiber needs going forward?
Mark S. Sutton -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
We couldn't hear exactly. I think you asked about OCC prices but you broke up a little bit at the beginning of your question. Is that what you were asking, OCC prices?
Neel Kumar -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
Yes. I was just asking about what your price expectations are for OCC in 2021 and the longer-term.
Tim S. Nicholls -- Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Now 2021, the crystal ball is not that clear going out toward the second half of the year. In the quarter, we expect the trend that we saw in the fourth quarter to continue in the first. And so on average, I think we're expecting $15 to $20, maybe a little bit more than that on OCC. But it really will depend. It's such a fast reacting market to circumstances and conditions. So we'll have to see what happens as we're going from first into second quarter.
Neel Kumar -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
Great. And then just in terms of China's ban of key imports. So you think that's going to stick or how they're going to address their fiber needs going forward?
Tim S. Nicholls -- Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 Well, we -- again we always have said, we take them at their word, and I think you've already seen the market beginning to adjust, adjusting last year and maybe even late 2019 in anticipation of this. So I think you see some of that rotation from one fiber tie to another in China and you see a rebalancing across other export markets for OCC. So yes, I think that probably stays in place.
Neel Kumar -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
Great. Thank you.
Tim S. Nicholls -- Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Thank you.
Mark S. Sutton -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
So thanks everyone for joining us today, and for the call -- for the questions, excuse me. Just a closing comment. We are excited about what's in front of us with International Paper. We have strong demand in packaging in cellulose fibers business. Our Paper business is recovering. We're still not gating the pandemic but as I said in my comments, I have total confidence in our employees to be able to continue to do that. We have improving market conditions. And so we're excited about the way 2021 is going to unfold and lead us into a very strong position as we enter 2022, and what I'm very hopeful is a pandemic-free economic playing field. So thank you again for your interest in International Paper.
Operator
[Operator Closing Remarks]
Duration: 62 minutes
Call participants:
Guillermo Gutierrez -- Vice President, Investor Relations
Mark S. Sutton -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Tim S. Nicholls -- Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Philip Ng -- Jefferies Group -- Analyst
Gabe Hajde -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst
Mark Wilde -- Bank of Montreal -- Analyst
George Staphos -- Bank of America -- Analyst
Anthony Pettinari -- Citigroup Inc. -- Analyst
Adam Josephson -- KeyBanc Capital Markets -- Analyst
Mark Weintraub -- Seaport Global Holdings -- Analyst
Mark Connelly -- Stephens, Inc. -- Analyst
Neel Kumar -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
More IP analysis
All earnings call transcripts




