European Paper & Board consumption minus in 1Q 09

Paper and board deliveries by CEPI countries were 21.7 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2009 as demand continues to be affected by the economic situation

Consumption and trade in paper and board contracted further during the first quarter of 2009 as the global economic downturn continued to affect the industry. Consumption was at its lowest quarterly level since 2003 and total exports fell below 3 million tonnes in a quarter for the first time since this report was introduced.

Comparison with 1st Quarter 2008

Total paper and board consumption in this quarter was 19.8 million tonnes which represents a decrease of 11.7% over the same quarter of 2008.

Graphic paper consumption decreased by 15.5% (-1.6 million tonnes), and consumption of packaging grades fell by 10.2% (-950,000 tonnes). In contrast, consumption of sanitary and household papers rose by 1.3% (+21,000 tonnes) compared with the same quarter of 2008. Usage of all other paper and board fell by 6.8% (-60,000 tonnes).

Deliveries to countries other than CEPI countries fell by 32.0% (-1.4 million tonnes) compared to the 1st quarter of 2008. Deliveries to non-CEPI European countries decreased by 28.3% (-431,000 tonnes) to 1.1 million tonnes.

Exports to Asian countries fell by 28.5% (-333,000 tonnes) and to Latin America by 43.3% (-158,000 tonnes) while exports to North America decreased by 47.4% (-286,000 tonnes).

The main market for exports by CEPI countries is non-CEPI European countries, which took 36.8% of all exports in the 1st quarter of 2009 (34.9% in Q1 2008), with deliveries to Asian countries taking 28.1%. Exports of graphic grades fell by 38.9% (-988,000 tonnes) and deliveries to other countries of packaging grades decreased by 22.4% (-359,000 tonnes). Exports of sanitary grades fell by 26.2% (-27,000 tonnes).

Imports into CEPI countries fell by 20.3% (-283,000 tonnes) when compared to the 1st quarter of 2008. Imports from Other Europe actually increased very slightly by 0.6% (+2,000 tonnes) whilst imports from North America decreased by 25.4% (-131,000 tonnes).

Imports from Asia fell by 10.3% (-16,000 tonnes) and imports from Latin America decreased by 54.6% (-119,000 tonnes). Imports from all other countries fell by 13.2% (-19,000 tonnes).

Imports from North America represented 34.6% of all imports in the first quarter (37.0% in Q1 2008) and imports from other European countries took 32.7% of all imports (25.9% in Q1 2008).

Imports of graphic grades fell by 18.9% (-122,000 tonnes) and imports of packaging grades fell by 22.0% (-144,000 tonnes) when compared to the first quarter of 2008. In contrast, imports of sanitary grades increased by 6.5% (+3,000 tonnes).

Comparison with 4th Quarter 2008

Consumption of paper and board in the first quarter of 2009 fell by 5.3% (-1.1 million tonnes) compared to the 4th quarter of 2008. Consumption for the period January – March 2009, totalled 19.8 million tonnes.

The decrease in total consumption was mainly accounted for by the decline in consumption of graphic papers which, at 8.95 million tonnes, saw a decrease of 11.8% (-1.2 million tonnes) over the previous quarter. In contrast packaging grades consumption was 8.3 million tonnes, showing a small increase of 0.2% (+16,000 tonnes) over the final quarter of 2008. Consumption of sanitary and household grades increased by 3.8% (+62,000 tonnes) whilst usage of all other paper and board rose by 2.3% (+18,000 tonnes).

Exports delivered to countries other than CEPI countries decreased by 16.6% (-590,000 tonnes) when compared to the previous quarter. Deliveries to Other European countries decreased by 19.4% (-262,000 tonnes) whilst exports North America decreased by 32.3% (-152,000 tonnes).

Exports to Latin America fell by 28.9% (-84,000 tonnes) when compared to the last quarter of 2008 and exports to all other countries fell by 15.4% (-94,000 tonnes). In contrast deliveries to Asia rose marginally by 0.2% (+2,000 tonnes). Exports of graphic grades showed a decrease of 24.0% (-488,000 tonnes) and exports of packaging grades fell by 3.6% (-47,000 tonnes). Deliveries to non-CEPI countries of sanitary grades fell by 32.1% (-36,000 tonnes).

Imports into CEPI countries fell by 2.6% (-30,000 tonnes) when compared to the 4th quarter of 2008.

Deliveries from other European countries increased by 4.9% (+17,000 tonnes) and imports from Asia rose by 36.3% (+37,000 tonnes). Imports from Latin America rose by 2.1% (+2,000 tonnes) when compared to the last quarter of 2008.

In contrast, imports from North America fell by 17.4% (-81,000 tonnes). Imports of graphic grades rose by 4.0% (+20,000 tonnes) when compared to the final quarter of 2008 whereas imports of packaging grades fell by 5.9% (-32,000 tonnes). Imports of sanitary grades decreased by 15.5% (-9,000 tonnes).

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Issued by:  PulpandPaper Net

Author: Pap'Argus

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Issue date: July 9, 2009

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