France's paper industry split in two in Corona year 2020

As reported by COPACEL, the association of paper manufacturers in France, production and demand for graphic papers fell significantly last year, production in the packaging paper sector remained at the previous year's level despite a difficult phase from April to June and thanks to a good second half of the year, and the hygiene paper sector recorded growth again, not least due to the pandemic and thanks to newly added capacities. Overall, paper production in France fell by 6.1% last year, and due to lower prices in some market segments, the production value of the French paper industry declined by 12.7%.

In the current year, however, with the possible end of the Corona pandemic, paper manufacturers France also see opportunities for slight recovery in some market segments and anticipate increased demand for hygiene products for commercial customers when catering establishments reopen, stronger demand for office papers with more workers returning to their offices from the home office, and more advertising printing again.