Revised: April shipments of European graphic papers fall by 4.8% year-over-year, to 3.162 million tonnes, year-to-date total drops by 4.0%: Euro-Graph

Diane Keaton

LOS ANGELES , May 25, 2012 (Industry Intelligence) – Information Intelligence Editor’s Note: This article has been expanded to include details about individual sectors as well as year-to-date totals, which were not available at the time of the original posting today.

In April, the shipments of European graphic papers decreased by 4.8%, to 3.162 million tonnes, compared to those of April 2011, according to the European Association of Graphic Paper Producers (Euro-Graph).

For the first four months of 2012, shipments totaled 13.011 million tonnes, down 4.0% from the year-ago period.

In April 2012, compared to April 2011, shipments to Europe of 2.592 million tonnes dropped by 6.0%. The papermakers exported 570,000 tonnes, for an increase of 0.9%. Total European demand of graphic papers was 2.646 million tonnes, for a decrease of 6.0%.

(European demand, which includes both Western and Eastern Europe, is partly estimated; for woodfree grades it excludes Russian domestic deliveries. For each of the three mechanical grades for which figures are shown, the shipments to Europe and the European demand are the same.)

January-through-April graphic papers shipments to Europe of 10.618 million tonnes fell by 5.6%, while exports of 2.393 million tonnes rose by 3.8%. European demand of 10.825 million tonnes dropped by 5.4%.

The April statistics continue a downward trend in demand for European graphic papers. For the first quarter of 2012, shipments of 9.818 million tonnes declined by 4.0%.

Looking at individual sectors, April 2012 shipments of uncoated woodfree (UWF) papers totaled 606,000 tonnes, down 2.6% year-over-year. Papermakers shipped 538,000 tonnes to Europe, down 2.1%, and 69,000 tonnes to outside of Europe, down 6.6%. European demand of 563,000 tonnes fell by 2.3%.

Cumulative UWF shipments of 2.561 million tonnes dropped by 3.5% compared to the year-ago period, including reductions of 3.9%, to 2.247 million tonnes, to Europe and of 1.0%, to 313,000 tonnes, to outside of Europe. There was a 4.5% decrease for European demand.

Coated woodfree (CWF) papers shipments in April of 596,000 tonnes dropped by 2.4%, including 483,000 tonnes to Europe, down by 0.4% and 113,000 tonnes to outside of Europe, down by 10.3%. But European demand of 495,000 tonnes rose by 0.5% year-over-year.

For the first four months of 2012, CWF papermakers shipped 2.517 million tonnes, for a 4.1% decrease from the year-ago period. This included drops of 3.0%, to 2.041 million tonnes, to Europe and of 8.3%, to 476,000 tonnes, to outside of Europe. European demand fell by 2.5%.

For newsprint, total European shipments of 824,000 tonnes fell by 3.9% in April 2012 compared to April 2011. Shipments to Europe totaled 659,000 tonnes, falling by 11.5%, while exports of 164,000 tonnes jumped by 46.5%. European demand was 676,000 tonnes, down 11.8%.

From January through April, total newsprint shipments reached 3.229 million tonnes, down 4.4% from the first four months of 2011. This included a 10.1% decrease in shipments to Europe, to 2.580 million tonnes, but a 27.7% increase in exports, reaching 649,000 tonnes. European demand of 2.652 million tonnes fell by 9.4%.

Year-over-year coated mechanical reels shipments of 608,000 tonnes fell by 8.3% in April, including drops of 9.7% to Europe, to 467,000 tonnes, and of 3.1% to outside of Europe, to 141,00 tonnes.

Year-to-date shipments of coated mechanical reels totaled 2.520 million tonnes, falling by 4.5%. Shipments to Europe of 1.939 million tonnes fell by 7.7%, while shipments to outside of Europe of 581,000 tonnes rose by 7.8%.

April shipments of SC-magazine papers totaled 325,000 tonnes, down 7.5%, including decreases of 2.5%, to 273,000 tonnes, for shipments to Europe, and of 27.4%, to 52,000 tonnes, for exports.

January-through-April shipments of SC magazine papers of 1.373 million tonnes fell by 1.5%. But shipments to Europe rose by 1.8%, to 1.149 million tonnes; this is the only grade showing a cumulative increase in shipments to Europe, compared to year-ago figures. Exports of 224,000 tonnes were down by 15.8%.

Shipments in April of uncoated mechanical papers (improved or others) totaled 203,000 tonnes, down 6.4% year-over-year. This included drops of 4.7%, to 172,000 tonnes, for shipments to Europe and of 14.6%, to 31,000 tonnes, for exports. The first four months of 2012 saw total shipments of 811,000 tonnes, down 5.6% from the year-ago period, including decreases of 5.8% for shipments to Europe and of 4.8% for exports.

Euro-Graph. Starting with the March 2012 statistics, the European Association of Graphic Paper Producers (Euro-Graph) began presenting the data for both mechanical and woodfree grades in a single format. Based in Brussels, Euro-Graph represents more than 30 companies that operate more than 100 paper mills in Europe, with an annual graphic papers capacity of approximately 45 million tonnes. Euro-Graph was formed when CEPIPRINT, the Association of European publication paper producers, and CEPIFINE, the Confederation of European fine paper industries, combined forces, effective Jan. 1, 2012.

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