16-04--2019

Decline production graphic papers continues As every year, the Copacel (French Union of paperboard, paper and celluloses industries) publishes the results of the French paper industry. If the production progresses in value, the situation remains contrasted according to the markets, especially the graphic paper. 75 companies, 85 factories, 12 000 employees, 6, 2 billion turnover... The pulp and paper industry remains active in France with a decrease in production of 2% by volume but a growth of 4.5% in value. Figures are explained by the increase in the costs of raw materials and energy in 2017 and 2018, and thus of the increase in the prices of the papers. For Paul-Antoine Lacour, Copacel's delegate general, "the decline in production reflects the decline in paper consumption in developed countries". Different perspectives depending on the market For fifteen years now, movements have been reversed between the categories of the sector. The graphic paper market was almost divided by two (from 44.4% of production in 2003 to 26.8% in 2018) while packaging and packaging grew steadily (from 44.9% to 56.7%). Hygiene is also maintained well with 10.8% of the overall production in 2018. France is thus the fifth European producer behind Germany, Finland, Sweden and Italy. The sector is largely expeditive, mainly within the European Union. Finally, the decline in the consumption of graphic paper, partly due to the rise of digital, pushes the sector to restructure. The production units close or convert to go to packaging and packng. Industrialists find that the uses are changing but admit that visibility is still low on new user behaviors. Le Papetier de France / France