Italy's corrugated board and packaging industry increases production in 2016

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Corrugated production in 2016 surpasses the record of 6.51 billion m² set in 2007, according GIFCO statistics.

Italy's corrugated board and packaging industry is continuing on its growth path. According to figures presented by the Italian industry association GIFCO, corrugated production increased by 1.8% to 6.57 billion m² compared to the previous year. Production by weight increased 2.7% to 3.72 million t.

The shift in activity focus of GIFCO members away from corrugated sheets and towards corrugated packaging has continued in 2016. While some 57.3% of the total output in m² was corrugated boxes in 2015, their share had risen to 60.2% one year later, according to GIFCO. In 2014, corrugated boxes accounted for 56% of the total output of Italy's corrugated industry.

Italy is the second biggest market for corrugated board and products in Europe after Germany. The latest GIFCO data shows that DS Smith Packaging is the leading supplier on Italy's market for corrugated products. DS Smith Packaging and its subsidiary Toscana Ondulati have a combined market share of 16.5%. Smurfit Kappa Group is the second-largest supplier with a 15.1% slice of the pie, followed by the Italian packaging group Pro-Gest with a 13.6% market share. Italy's Laveggia Group has a market share of 6.7%, while International Paper holds a 5.5% share. The five biggest players together account for 57% of the total market in Italy.

In late March 2017, Italy's competition market watchdog AGCM has opened an antitrust investigation against major producers of corrugated sheets and packaging in Italy and the industry association GIFCO for alleged market manipulation and price fixing in Italy. The investigation is expected to conclude by 31 May next year.

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