Italy: Coronavirus fears fuel demand for packaging paper and board

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The coronavirus crisis and a nationwide lockdown to combat the spread of Covid-19 have shaped developments on the Italian market in March.

Producers of certain packaging paper and board grades, especially those supplying the food, pharma and chemical industries, are reaping the rewards of significant changes in consumer behaviour, and their status as systemically relevant businesses.

However, unlike a few other European markets, prices for recycled corrugated case material stayed the same in Italy in March. Several recycled containerboard and kraftliner manufacturers want to catch-up and are pushing for price hikes for April deliveries in Italy amidst solid demand for corrugated case material and corrugated packaging from the food and beverage, pharma, soap and detersive industries, as well as online retailers.

Italian recovered paper buyers and suppliers are also reporting the first direct knock-on effects of the emergency braking of Italy's economy. According to EUWID sources, paper for recycling is becoming scarce due to reduced collection activity, and prices started to climb.

The Covid-19 disease caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), and the restrictions taken by businesses and governments in order to limit the Covid-19 spread, are reducing economic activity in Europe, and are expected to have a strong impact on many industrial segments. EUWID Pulp and Paper is keeping you up-to-date with latest news and developments in the recycling, pulp, paper, packaging and printing industries across Europe.

This article is an excerpt from EUWID's report on the paper markets in Italy. Find the EUWID report on the Italian containerboard and other paper and board markets in EUWID Pulp and Paper issue no 14/2020, which will be available to our e-paper and print subscribers as of 1 April.

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