Half-yearly balance: demand for paper and board continues to grow
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In the first half of 2022, the paper industry in Germany recorded a slight increase in production of 2.6 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, which was still affected by the Corona pandemic.
With an increase of 4.2 per cent (half-year production = 3.3 million tonnes), graphic papers were the fastest-growing major grade group. The continuing demand for print advertising after the corona phase was noticeable here. Paper, cardboard and paperboard for packaging purposes - the largest group of grades with about 6.9 million tonnes produced in the first half of the year - increased by 1.7 per cent.
The growth in the two smaller groups of grades differed. Hygienic papers (735,000 tonnes) were in line with their long-term growth rate with an increase of 1.6 per cent. Technical and speciality papers (758,000 tonnes) increased significantly. Here it was a plus of 5.5 percent.
"In terms of volume, the German paper industry has recovered well from 2020 and 2021," said the president of DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE, Winfried Schaur, commenting on the half-year figures. "However, in view of the looming gas shortage, companies are deeply unsettled. No one knows whether they will still be able to produce in autumn or winter." A gas freeze would bring paper production to a virtual standstill. Numerous vital products - for food supply and hygiene, for example - would then no longer be available. Printed media would also be affected by a production stop.
