Another year of decline for the UK graphic papers market

摘要

UK demand for papers and boards declined for the third year running in 2013 with the total volume of purchases falling below 10 million tonnes for the first time on an annual basis in the process. 2011 and 2012 saw decreases of 3.1% and 2.9% respectively. The level of contraction was not significant, at 1.5% (–147,080 tonnes), but it is the continuation of the longer term downward trend in graphic paper demand that is the main message. The overall size of the domestic paper and board market has shrunk noticeably since the record year for purchases in 2000 when volume totalled 12.906 million tonnes (as shown graphically the erosion was most marked at the time of recession in 2008-09). The level of demand in 2013 stood at 9.857 million tonnes, a figure over three million tonnes down on the peak. This means that the UK market has narrowed by almost a quarter (23.6%) over the past 13 years.