Investments in corrugated case material machines remain a mainstay amidst the strong growth in online shopping that has intensified as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Safeguarding the supply of containerboard – something that has repeatedly proven tricky, especially in the recent past – is playing a key role for packaging manufacturers when making investment decisions.
Examples include plans by Schumacher Packaging, VPK, Model and Prinzhorn, some of which are boosting their capacity by converting machines that used to make fine and publication paper to manufacture packaging paper instead.
Even though graphic paper prices have now climbed to unprecedented levels, producers like Norske Skog and Heinzel are focusing more on packaging paper, which is expected to enjoy good business in the medium term, while graphic paper demand is expected to continue shrinking. However, observers fear that surplus capacity in the containerboard market might be created.
Companies plan to add another 4.3 million tpy of containerboard manufacturing capacity throughout Europe up to and including 2024. Approximately another 2.4 million tpy is slated to come online in Turkey....
