July 23, 2024 (press release) –
The paper industry in Spain is resilient in an adverse context, thanks to exports
• Spanish exports of cellulose, paper and cardboard have increased by 4.5% compared to 2022, with Europe being the main destination market. The greatest growth corresponds to cellulose, which increases its exports by 23.8%.
• Turnover reached 5.261 billion euros. The geopolitical situation, high energy prices, rising raw material prices, falling demand and rising labour costs are causing a loss of competitiveness, which has hampered results.
• Pulp and paper production has fallen by 2.9%. This is a smaller decline than that recorded in Europe, where it has decreased by 11.8%. Despite this, Spain remains the sixth largest producer of paper and cardboard and among the top five in pulp production in the European Union.
• By type of product, paper for packaging and wrapping accounts for 68.9% of production, followed by hygienic and sanitary paper (13.4%), press and printing and writing paper (11%) and other papers and special papers (6.7%).
• The sector continues to invest in the sector, with a total of 288 million euros and an investment-to-billing ratio of 5.5% in the last year.
• This industry has 16,964 direct jobs and around 85,000 indirect jobs, which contribute to the socio-territorial structure of our country.
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The paper industry in Spain, made up of 74 factories (64 paper and cardboard, 5 cellulose and 5 integrated cellulose and paper), has experienced a decline in the production of pulp, paper and cardboard, mainly as a result of tensions in the energy market, the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, the rise in raw material prices, the fall in demand and rising labour costs. Despite this challenging context, exports have experienced a significant growth of 4.5% compared to the previous year.
Production
Cellulose production has increased by 4.3% compared to the previous year, with 1,611,074 tonnes produced by 10 factories in 2023. This growth contrasts with the trend followed by cellulose production in Europe, which registered an average drop of 9.1% in 2023. In this context, with 4.4% of production, Spain is the fifth largest cellulose producer in the European Union, together with France and Austria, and after Sweden, Finland, Portugal and Germany.
For their part, with a total production of 6,049,422 tons of paper and cardboard, the 69 Spanish paper mills have seen their production reduced by 4.6% compared to the previous year. However, this drop is smaller than that recorded in Europe, where paper and cardboard production will decrease by 13% in 2023. Thus, Spain, with 7.5% of production, is positioned as the sixth largest paper and cardboard producer in the European Union, behind Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland and France.
By product type, paper for packaging and wrapping accounts for 68.9% of production. This is followed by toilet and sanitary paper (13.4%), press and printing and writing paper (11%) and other papers and special papers (6.7%).
Consumption
Cellulose consumption reached 1,660,539 tonnes in 2023, 15.1% less than the previous year. The European comparison places Spain as the sixth consumer of cellulose, with 5.2%, behind Sweden, Finland, Germany, France and Poland.
As for the data on paper and cardboard consumption, they show a decrease of 9.8% compared to 2022, placing total consumption in Spain at 6,342,701 tonnes. Despite this, in the European comparison, according to the latest available data (2022), Spain positioned itself as the fifth consumer of paper by volume in the European Union, behind Germany, Italy, France and Poland. Specifically, our country recorded a consumption of 133.4 kg per capita.
These data show a change in the growth trend in paper, cardboard and cellulose consumption recorded in the two years following the pandemic.
Raw Materials
The 10 pulp mills located in Spain used 4,960,620 m3 of wood as raw material. Consumption remains stable, despite the increase in the production of cellulose pulp. 94% of the wood supplied to the sector continues to be of national origin, thus contributing to the generation of local employment and wealth, mainly in rural areas. In addition, the wood plantations that supply the sector are managed under sustainable forest management principles, which guarantee their conservation and protection.
In 2023, Spanish paper mills recycled 4,829,626 tonnes of used paper, which makes the recycling rate (the amount of paper recycled as raw material in Spain out of paper and cardboard consumption) 83.4%. These figures place Spain as the third largest recycling country in the European Union, only surpassed by Germany and Italy.
These positive recycling results are based on an efficient paper and cardboard recovery system in businesses, industries and municipalities. In 2023, a collection rate (the proportion of paper collected for recycling in relation to total paper consumption) of 73.2% was achieved, three percentage points above the rate of the previous year.
The paper industry is betting on exports and investments
Exports and imports
In line with the sector's strategic commitment to international markets, Spanish exports of cellulose, paper and cardboard have increased by 4.5% compared to 2022, with the main destination being the single European market.
The export of cellulose has increased considerably in 2023, reaching 1,001,714 tonnes, 23.8% more than in 2022. Imports, on the other hand, have been reduced by 14%, standing at 1,051,163 tonnes.
However, paper and cardboard produced in Spain and exported to foreign markets has suffered a slight drop of 1.7%. This figure contrasts with the decline in exports in 2022, which fell significantly, specifically by 11.7%. Overall, 2,449,852 tonnes of paper and cardboard were exported in 2023, which represents around 40.5% of total production. As for imports of paper and cardboard, these have fallen by 13.7%, standing at 2,743,131 tonnes.
Investments
The sector continues to invest, with a total of 288 million euros in 2023 and an investment-to-revenue ratio of 5.5% in the last year. These investments have been mainly aimed at innovation and technological improvements (25.6%), increasing production capacities (16.6%) and quality and the environment (22.2%).
Employment
The activity of Spanish pulp and paper factories generates quality employment. Employment in the sector remains stable in 2023, with 16,964 direct jobs and around 85,000 indirect jobs, which contribute to the socio-territorial structuring and the creation of wealth in the areas in which they operate.
The sustainability of paper
Paper products are unbeatable in terms of circularity and sustainability. In addition to being made from a natural, renewable and biodegradable raw material, they stand out for being recyclable and massively recycled. Along with these attributes, their versatility also stands out, which makes them present across all industries, as well as their great capacity to replace other materials.
Furthermore, thanks to the continuous investments in innovation driven by companies, the sector is able to make progress in the face of important environmental challenges and position paper as a product that leads the current challenges of the circular economy.
07/15/2024
The paper industry in Spain is resilient in an adverse context, thanks to exports
• Spanish exports of cellulose, paper and cardboard have increased by 4.5% compared to 2022, with Europe being the main destination market. The greatest growth corresponds to cellulose, which increases its exports by 23.8%.
• Turnover reached 5.261 billion euros. The geopolitical situation, high energy prices, rising raw material prices, falling demand and rising labour costs are causing a loss of competitiveness, which has hampered results.
• Pulp and paper production has fallen by 2.9%. This is a smaller decline than that recorded in Europe, where it has decreased by 11.8%. Despite this, Spain remains the sixth largest producer of paper and cardboard and among the top five in pulp production in the European Union.
• By type of product, paper for packaging and wrapping accounts for 68.9% of production, followed by hygienic and sanitary paper (13.4%), press and printing and writing paper (11%) and other papers and special papers (6.7%).
• The sector continues to invest in the sector, with a total of 288 million euros and an investment-to-billing ratio of 5.5% in the last year.
• This industry has 16,964 direct jobs and around 85,000 indirect jobs, which contribute to the socio-territorial structure of our country.
________________________________________
The paper industry in Spain, made up of 74 factories (64 paper and cardboard, 5 cellulose and 5 integrated cellulose and paper), has experienced a decline in the production of pulp, paper and cardboard, mainly as a result of tensions in the energy market, the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, the rise in raw material prices, the fall in demand and rising labour costs. Despite this challenging context, exports have experienced a significant growth of 4.5% compared to the previous year.
Production
Cellulose production has increased by 4.3% compared to the previous year, with 1,611,074 tonnes produced by 10 factories in 2023. This growth contrasts with the trend followed by cellulose production in Europe, which registered an average drop of 9.1% in 2023. In this context, with 4.4% of production, Spain is the fifth largest cellulose producer in the European Union, together with France and Austria, and after Sweden, Finland, Portugal and Germany.
For their part, with a total production of 6,049,422 tons of paper and cardboard, the 69 Spanish paper mills have seen their production reduced by 4.6% compared to the previous year. However, this drop is smaller than that recorded in Europe, where paper and cardboard production will decrease by 13% in 2023. Thus, Spain, with 7.5% of production, is positioned as the sixth largest paper and cardboard producer in the European Union, behind Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland and France.
By product type, paper for packaging and wrapping accounts for 68.9% of production. This is followed by toilet and sanitary paper (13.4%), press and printing and writing paper (11%) and other papers and special papers (6.7%).
Consumption
Cellulose consumption reached 1,660,539 tonnes in 2023, 15.1% less than the previous year. The European comparison places Spain as the sixth consumer of cellulose, with 5.2%, behind Sweden, Finland, Germany, France and Poland.
As for the data on paper and cardboard consumption, they show a decrease of 9.8% compared to 2022, placing total consumption in Spain at 6,342,701 tonnes. Despite this, in the European comparison, according to the latest available data (2022), Spain positioned itself as the fifth consumer of paper by volume in the European Union, behind Germany, Italy, France and Poland. Specifically, our country recorded a consumption of 133.4 kg per capita.
These data show a change in the growth trend in paper, cardboard and cellulose consumption recorded in the two years following the pandemic.
Raw Materials
The 10 pulp mills located in Spain used 4,960,620 m3 of wood as raw material. Consumption remains stable, despite the increase in the production of cellulose pulp. 94% of the wood supplied to the sector continues to be of national origin, thus contributing to the generation of local employment and wealth, mainly in rural areas. In addition, the wood plantations that supply the sector are managed under sustainable forest management principles, which guarantee their conservation and protection.
In 2023, Spanish paper mills recycled 4,829,626 tonnes of used paper, which makes the recycling rate (the amount of paper recycled as raw material in Spain out of paper and cardboard consumption) 83.4%. These figures place Spain as the third largest recycling country in the European Union, only surpassed by Germany and Italy.
These positive recycling results are based on an efficient paper and cardboard recovery system in businesses, industries and municipalities. In 2023, a collection rate (the proportion of paper collected for recycling in relation to total paper consumption) of 73.2% was achieved, three percentage points above the rate of the previous year.
The paper industry is betting on exports and investments
Exports and imports
In line with the sector's strategic commitment to international markets, Spanish exports of cellulose, paper and cardboard have increased by 4.5% compared to 2022, with the main destination being the single European market.
The export of cellulose has increased considerably in 2023, reaching 1,001,714 tonnes, 23.8% more than in 2022. Imports, on the other hand, have been reduced by 14%, standing at 1,051,163 tonnes.
However, paper and cardboard produced in Spain and exported to foreign markets has suffered a slight drop of 1.7%. This figure contrasts with the decline in exports in 2022, which fell significantly, specifically by 11.7%. Overall, 2,449,852 tonnes of paper and cardboard were exported in 2023, which represents around 40.5% of total production. As for imports of paper and cardboard, these have fallen by 13.7%, standing at 2,743,131 tonnes.
Investments
The sector continues to invest, with a total of 288 million euros in 2023 and an investment-to-revenue ratio of 5.5% in the last year. These investments have been mainly aimed at innovation and technological improvements (25.6%), increasing production capacities (16.6%) and quality and the environment (22.2%).
Employment
The activity of Spanish pulp and paper factories generates quality employment. Employment in the sector remains stable in 2023, with 16,964 direct jobs and around 85,000 indirect jobs, which contribute to the socio-territorial structuring and the creation of wealth in the areas in which they operate.
The sustainability of paper
Paper products are unbeatable in terms of circularity and sustainability. In addition to being made from a natural, renewable and biodegradable raw material, they stand out for being recyclable and massively recycled. Along with these attributes, their versatility also stands out, which makes them present across all industries, as well as their great capacity to replace other materials.
Furthermore, thanks to the continuous investments in innovation driven by companies, the sector is able to make progress in the face of important environmental challenges and position paper as a product that leads the current challenges of the circular economy.
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