While consumption of paper and cardboard products was down by 6.6% in 2020, the sector is now showing signs of strong recovery with a 5% increase in 2021 in the member countries* of the Confederation of European Paper Industries (Cepi), according to the organization's preliminary figures.
As for the production, it increased by 5.8% in 2021 compared to the previous year (vs. -5% in 2020). Total tonnage produced reaches 90.2 million (vs. 85.1 million tons in 2020), with increases in almost all paper and board grades.
The share of packaging grades is 58.7% (compared to 58.2% in 2020) of total paper and board production, graphic grades 27.8% (unchanged), sanitary and household paper 8.7% (-2.5% compared to 2020), and all other paper and board grades - mainly used for industrial and special purposes - is 4.8% (+9.6%).
The production of paper and cardboard packaging increased by 7.1% in 2021 compared to 2020 (+2.1% in 2020), reaching the highest level ever.
"Beyond the effects of the resurgent global economic engine, there are other factors at play. Covid-19 has caused a strong consumer reliance on online shopping, benefiting paper and paperboard packaging producers."
In detail, box materials, mainly used for transport packaging and corrugated boxes, recorded an increase of 7.8%.
Production of other packaging boards - mainly used for retail packaging - increased by 4.1%.
And production of packaging paper used for bags increased by 11.7%, benefiting from the phase-out of plastic.
"The high recyclability of paper and paperboard has contributed to the popularity of these materials with consumer-oriented shippers and carriers. A variety of industries are now using paper and paperboard packaging, including as a solution for delivering food products or medical and pharmaceutical supplies." analyzes the Cepi.
The global production of graphic ranges increased by 5.4%.
Printing and writing paper - used for magazines and catalogs, direct mail, directories, etc. - is up 8.0%, while newsprint is down 7.4%. - newsprint - used for magazines and catalogs, direct mail, directories, etc. - is up 8.0%, while newsprint is down 7.4%. "The pandemic accelerated this already well-established structural decline. Permanent plant closures or machine conversions have been announced, in order to adapt to the situation." notes Cepi.
The exports outside the Cepi countries are up 9.2% (compared with -8.4% in 2020). They are thus back to their 2019 level, thanks to the North and South American markets.
The imports of paper and cardboard in the Cepi area have increased by about 1.5% compared to 2020. This increase is mainly due to the increase in imports from other European countries [+21.8%]. Other European countries represent 50.0% of all imports, North America 21.7%, Asia 10.0%, Latin America 5.8% and the rest of the world 12.3%.
As a result, the paper and board trade balance increased by 12.3% compared to 2020.
* Cepi member countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.
