Cepi, the European Confederation of Paper Industries, has published the first figures for the past year. Paper and cardboard production in the association's member countries* decreased by 5% in 2020, mainly due to the covid-19 pandemic, which had an impact on international demand. However, demand for packaging paper and cardboard continued to grow in 2020, due to the sharp rise in e-commerce linked to the health crisis.
Early estimates indicate that the increase in packaging production of 2.1% compared to 2019. Among these packages, the production of corrugated boxes recorded an increase of 3.3%. The production of cardboard, packaging paper - used for the production of paper bags - and other packaging board - used for retail packaging - remained unchanged.
The newsprint production collapsed by 20.5% and the printing and writing papers fell by 18.4% . "The pandemic has accelerated this already structural decline. Permanent plant closures or machinery conversions have been announced to accommodate the situation." notes the European Paper Industry Association.
The domestic demand for toilet paper - "of vital importance to the citizens." the confederation - has been relatively positive in 2020 with an increase of 1.9% compared to 2019.
The demand for paper and board in Europe, affected by the economic recession, decreased by 6.6% from 2019. "It has been directly impacted by the recession in the European economy - 7.4% in 2020, after +1.6% in 2019 (Real Gross Domestic Product in Europe, editor's note) - and the less favourable global economic environment. This crisis and the periodic confinements have accelerated the change in consumption patterns and will have a lasting impact."
"The priority for the European pulp and paper industry in 2020 has been to ensure that EU citizens have access to the products they need for hygiene, health and nutrition (...) Our industry data now show that the crisis and the confinements have accelerated the change in consumption patterns and will have a lasting impact on markets", commented Jori Ringman, CEO of Cepi.
* cepi member countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
