China to Become Top Net Exporter of Boxboard by 2014

Despite fairly slow growth in domestic demand, China has maintained an aggressive capacity expansion plan that will result in a significant market imbalance over the next two to three years. Given the precarious state of the global economy and relatively weak domestic demand Chinese producers will be eager to export excess tonnage. These findings were published this week in the 2012 World Boxboard Study by RISI, Boston, Mass., USA.

"During the last decade, demand for boxboard declined in the mature markets of North America, Western Europe, Japan, and Oceania. Producers in those markets began exporting to developing markets that were experiencing significant growth rates of approximately 7% per year from 2001 to 2010. By 2011, Asia represented 42% of the total world boxboard demand," said Ken Wagerhorne VP of Packaging at RISI.

"China has responded aggressively to this demand. We estimate that by 2013 close to 8.8 million metric tons of additional boxboard capacity will come online there. As Asia quickly takes the lead in global exports, producers in Europe and North America will face increasing competitive pressure," continued Wagerhorne.

More information about the 2012 World Boxboard Study is available online.

TAPPI
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