RISI Predicts North American Paper Mill Shift to Lightweight Packaging, Specialty Grades
BOSTON—June 2, 2015—North American graphic paper producers continue to struggle with overcapacity in a declining market that has experienced a 48 percent drop in demand since the turn of the century. This has forced producers to remove 1.8 million tons of capacity per year between 2001-2014 just to keep pace. Consequently, mills looking to avoid the closure of productive assets have been driven to consider converting machines for packaging and specialty papers production. These trends and other findings were revealed in the North American Containerboard Conversion Study, by RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry.
"Out of all alternative grades, containerboard stands out as the most attractive conversion option for graphic paper producers because of similar basis weights and its high volume commodity nature," said Derek Mahlburg, lead study author and senior economist of Graphic Paper at RISI, "The market has positive demand growth and higher profitability, but presents key challenges alongside these opportunities for producers looking to convert."
Mahlburg continued, "As producers assess conversion feasibility and transition to new grades, significant changes will take place in packaging papers markets. These will impact supply, pricing and the competitive landscape."
The North American Containerboard Conversion Study is a comprehensive analysis outlining the opportunities and challenges faced by graphic paper producers looking to convert. It reviews the success of previous machine conversions while identifying and analyzing top candidates for future conversion. In addition, the study forecasts to 2019 to determine how markets will respond.
The Study details:
- The impact conversions will have on the competitive landscape, market balance and sources of supply in virgin and recycled containerboard markets
- Cost estimates of top conversion candidates as containerboard producers based on RISI’s cost benchmarking service
- Traits that make a machine a feasible conversion candidate
- The potential for the containerboard market to absorb new capacity
- Current state of the market and analysis of risk associated with mill investment
- Alternative, non-containerboard grades that graphic paper producers might also consider
For more information, request the prospectus at www.risi.com/NAConversion.
Key companies covered in the study include: International Paper, Domtar, Packaging Corp. of America, Verso, Resolute Forest Products, SP Fiber Technologies, Georgia-Pacific, Catalyst, White Birch, Kruger, Bio-Pappel, Sappi, Paper Excellence, Alberta Newsprint, Irving Paper, Weyerhauser, North Pacific Paper, Evergreen Packaging, Port Hawkesbury, Tembec, Glatfelter, Inland Empire, Productora Nacional del Papel, UPM, Nippon Paper, Finch Paper, Appleton Coated, Twin Rivers, FutureMark, Finch Paper, Flambeau River Papers, Rolland Enterprises, Appvion, BPM, Neenah Paper, American Eagle Paper, French Paper, Mohawk Fine Papers and West Linn Paper.
About RISI
RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. The company works with clients in the pulp and paper, packaging, wood products, timber, biomass, tissue and nonwovens industries to help them make better decisions. Headquartered in Boston, RISI operates additional offices throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia.
Source: RISI.
