Demand for print & graphic paper to decline sharply by 2010 - New market report

In  printweek.com article, it has been reported that a Stationers' and Newsprint Makers' Company Report, entitled, 'Future of Paper and Print in Europe 2008-2020', that there will be a dramatic drop in demand for print and graphic grades of paper in Europe.  Some highlights are:

• Total demand to drop by 32.5% by 2020
• Newsprint demand to decline by 56% between 2008 and 2020 
  
• Business papers and print to decline by 45.5%
• Magazine paper demand to decline by 32%
• Advertising and commercial print sector to decline by 14.5%

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to conclude that digital media and online publishing is the prime reason for the predicted decline in use of these papers.

For paper chemical producers this is a significant market for process chemicals and functional chemicals aimed at this market (eg OBAs, internal sizing, surface treatment).  To compound the agony, it is well know that imports of OBA (and other paper chemicals) from China and India into Europe have increased significantly in the last year or so.  The market report will also not make good reading for the suppliers of fillers and pigments (eg calcium carbonate, kaolin).

The market report was prepared by NLK Associates.