CEPI: Preliminary paper and board statistics 2012

Indications are that paper and board production by CEPI member countries fell by in the region of 1.7% in 2012. It is estimated that CEPI member countries produced around 92 million tonnes of paper and board in 2012, resulting from some adjustments in production capacities with closures amounting to 2 million tonnes and new capacities or upgrading of existing ones accounting for close to 1 million tonne.
It is estimated that the production of pulp (integrated + market) has decreased by up to 1% when compared to the previous year, with total output of approximately 38 million tonnes. It is estimated that output of market pulp increased by about between 4% and 4.5%, while integrated pulp output decreased by 3% in 2012 when compared to 2011. It is estimated that consumption of paper for recycling by CEPI members fell by between 1% and 1.5%. Based on the cumulative data up to the end of the third quarter of 2012 it is expected that total paper & board deliveries for the year will have fallen by over 2% when compared to 2011.
It appears that the overall consumption of paper and board in CEPI countries in 2012 decreased by between 4% and 5% when compared to 2011 (Publication CEPI, 20 February 2013).