Australian Paper Consumption to Rise 4.9% by 2020

Latest research and analysis by IndustryEdge demonstrates that Australia’s consumption of paper and paperboard will increase by a total 4.9% over the five years to 2020. The 157,000 tonne increase in consumption is reported in the 24th annual edition of the Pulp & Paper Strategic Review, which we have just published.

However, that aggregate consumption increase is not uniform across the major grades of paper and paperboard. Indeed, almost all forecast growth will be provided by increased consumption of packaging and industrial papers and printing and communication papers. The growth in packaging and industrial papers is unsurpirising, but the forecasts continue to throw up surpirses when it comes to printing and communication papers. After all, they are under pressure from digital media and communications technologies. Yet still, they demonstrate, in total at least, some resilience.

For the first time, the Strategic Review includes forecasts for consumption and demand in New Zealand, as well as Australia and also includes new ‘snapshot’ graphics for each major sector for both Australia and New Zealand.

Over the  five year period to 2020, New Zealand’s aggregate consumption of paper and paperboard will grow 4.3%. As with Australia, consumption growth will not be uniform across the paper grades, with packaging and industrial papers again set to dominate.

The Strategic Review details forecasts for both Australia and New Zealand, covering newsprint, printing and communication papers (Broken down to major grade level for Australia), tissue and tissue products and packaging and industrial papers.

Because the forecasts are strict econometric regressions, IndustryEdge has also included commentary that provides current industry context.