According to a report this past week by EUWID (Gernsbach, Germany) envelope paper manufacturers are pleased with ordering activity on the German market. Prices, however, did not alter in the second quarter.

The second quarter was a strong period in terms of capacity use for Germany's envelope paper and shipping bag paper market. "Machines were pretty busy," one source told EUWID, noting that the first half of the year could thus be described as good. However, business had now become a little quieter, although companies were busy for the summertime, according to sources also quoted by EUWID. Order backlogs have become a little shorter and now range from three to four weeks, with up to five weeks also quoted in isolated cases. The extended downtime that was needed last year would likely not recur this season.

The second quarter brought no changes to list prices for 80 g white woodfree envelope paper. However, a few suppliers are apparently now granting summer discounts, something that other manufacturers could not understand at all. "Capacity utilization is still very good," one producer commented, noting for the report that these discounts had therefore been granted for absolutely no reason whatsoever.