Cost wave weighs on the corrugated board industry
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After the corrugated board industry suffered drastic economic losses in 2023 due to a weak economy, the industry is hoping for a gradual recovery in 2024.
However, this is now under considerable threat from new cost pressure, warns the German Association of the Corrugated Board Industry (VDW). In particular, the industry considers the latest developments in the price of corrugated base paper to be extremely worrying.
"In the first quarter of 2024, the corrugated board industry recorded a 1.4% increase in working-day sales compared to the same period last year. After an extremely tough year in 2023, this could finally herald the start of a slight and gradual recovery. However, a new wave of costs is now threatening to undo this positive trend," explains VDW Chairman Dr. Steffen P. Würth.
The biggest driver here is the price of corrugated base paper, the most important raw material for the production of corrugated board.
