Compared to the same quarter of 2020, consumption of adhesive label materials in Europe jumped 9.3% in Europe, according to adhesive label trade association Finat, even as the second quarter of 2020 showed an 8% annual growth rate.
"The peak in demand in spring 2021 correlates with the overall economic recovery in Europe, as evidenced by the 13.2 percent growth in the EU economy compared to the second quarter of 2020." notes the federation of professionals.
This year, in contrast to 2020, demand growth is coming primarily from paper roll demand in volume, which is up 14.6% year-over-year. demand for film roll label materials is down 4.2% from the peak in the second quarter of 2020 (non-paper rolls were up a record 22.4% at that time).
"The peak in demand for paper rolls was already announced in the first quarter, when reports surfaced of paper shortages in the supply chain after a period of de-stocking."
When looking at the figures for the first two quarters of 2021, the demand for labelstock in Europe increased by 5.4% compared to the first half of 2020 (with +7.7% for paper rolls and +0.3% for film rolls).
Demand growth in the first half of 2021 is driven primarily by double-digit growth rates in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Southern Europe and Eastern Europe.
Finat notes that a year ago, these three regions "underperformed" compared to Northern and Central Europe, which had growth rates above 15% in the second quarter of 2020 and which a year later is recording substantial declines compared to that period.
