German corrugated board industry association VDW reports on delivery growth and rising cost pressure

摘要

In the first quarter of 2021, the member companies of the association of the German corrugated board manufacturing and converting industry (VDW) registered clear delivery growth: The sales volume in square metres per workday rose by 7.6 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2020. However, the continued sharp rise in paper prices and declining revenues are areas of concern for the industry, reports the VDW. Between January and March 2021, the VDW member companies sold 2.2 billion m~2 of corrugated board, i.e., 122 million m~2 more than in the corresponding prior-year period. The association reports that in view of the challenging economic environment, this result is positive, but looking forward, there are factors giving rise to concerns. In this context the VDW refers to the noticeable shortage of raw materials in many sectors and its impact on production in Germany. The decline in the gross domestic product of 1.8 per cent seen in the first quarter of 2021, adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects, reflects the consequences of renewed pandemic-related restrictions last winter. For example, the situation on the recovered paper market remained tense at the beginning of 2021, as it had already been in thefourth quarter of 2020. The market was characterised by shortages of commercial collection volumes coupled with high demand from the paper industry.