The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), Brussels, Belgium, has released its 2014 Key Statistics, giving a clear picture of the industry’s performance last year. The report includes data about production, consumption and the trade of pulp, paper, and raw materials, as well as data on energy and environment. It shows an industry in full transformation, with the growth in output in the packaging sector and a more modest increase in hygiene paper production more than balancing out the continuous decline in the output of graphic paper. 

According to the report, production of paper and board in Europe decreased by 0.2% in 2014 compared with the previous year, after a cumulative decline of 4% between 2010 and 2013. It is now established at 91.1 million metric tons in 2014. Paper and board consumption rose by 0.9% compared with 2013 and totaled 77.1 million metric tons. This increase is particularly important because it comes after three consecutive years of decline. The EU28 and the euro area recovered in 2014, with the annual GDP thought to have increased respectively by 1.3% and 0.8% (source: Eurostat). This was reflected in the demand for paper. 

Graphic grades represented 40.5% of all paper and board produced in Europe, packaging grades 47.5%, sanitary and household papers 7.7% and specialty grades 4.3%. Paper and board exports to countries outside of CEPI dropped, causing concern, while imports rose, resulting in a slightly negative trade balance impact. However, CEPI countries maintained an overall positive trade balance in paper (exports exceeding imports) of 14.0 million metric tons in 2014 (14.8 million metric tons in 2013). 

Market pulp production fell by 1.4% compared with 2013, with an output of 13.2 million metric tons. Ernst & Young issued a limited assurance statement on the data quality rating that CEPI carried out on its core indicators in the statistics report. The key statistics report can be downloaded on CEPI’s website, or via email request.