CEPI releases ‘2015 Key Statistics’ brochure

In 2015, the European paper industry’s performance in total was second to China, with stable production and increased consumption compared with 2014, according to figures recently released by the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), Brussels.

According to CEPI’s “2015 Key Statistics” brochure, the packaging sector’s production continued to increase, whilst graphic paper (newsprint, printing and writing paper) maintained its recent decline. The report includes data on production, consumption and the trade of pulp, paper and raw materials, as well as on energy and the environment.

Main highlights from the report are:

• CEPI members produced 90.9 million tonnes of paper and board. This corresponds to a slight decrease of 0.2% in 2014 and relative stability over the last three years. The operating rate for 2015 was 91.2%, up from 89.7% in 2014.
• Graphic grades (newsprint, writing and printing paper) represented 38.8% of all paper and board produced in Europe in 2015, packaging grades represented 49%, sanitary and household papers represented 7.9% and speciality grades represented 4.3%.
• The overall output performance of CEPI countries in total was slightly better than in most other major traditional paper producing regions of the world, with a fall in production recorded in all regions except China. Paper and board production decreased in Brazil (-0.5%), South Korea (-0.9%), the USA (-1%), Japan (-1%) and Canada (-7.4%). Production in China rose by 2.3% compared with 2014.
• Consumption rose for the second year in a row by 0.5% compared with 2014, totalling 77.4 million tonnes. The economic recovery observed in the EU28 and the euro area in 2015—annual GDP (gross domestic product) increased by 2% and 1.7%, respectively, according to Eurostat—had a positive impact on paper and board demand.
• CEPI countries maintained an overall positive paper and board trade balance (exports exceeding imports) of 13.5 million tonnes in 2015 compared with 14 million tonnes in 2014.
• Market pulp production fell by 0.7% compared with 2014, with an output of 13.1 million tonnes.

Ernst & Young issued a limited assurance statement on the data quality rating that CEPI carried out on its core indicators in the statistics report. This statement and the “Key Statistics report” can be downloaded in PDF format from CEPI’s website at www.cepi.org/topics/statistics. A paper copy can be requested by emailing mail@cepi.org.

More detailed statistical information is available to non-CEPI members by subscription. A full report can be ordered by contacting Ariane Crèvecoeur by telephone +32 (0)2 62749 35 or by email at a.crevecoeur@cepi.org  or Eric Kilby at e.kilby@cepi.org.