CEPIPRINT: SC magazine exports up 102.4% in July 2006

Aug 28, 2006. /Lesprom Network/.   The traditionally quieter mid-year period has been partially offset by the aftermath of the Finnish strike/lockout of last year, Association of European Publication Paper Producers  reported. As a result, all year-on-year figures show positive development in July with the exception of newsprint exports, which ran at loss of -18.2% last month due to the very tight domestic situation as newsprint shipments to Europe rose by 6.3%.

The SC magazine sector recorded a massive increase of 102.4% in exports, more than doubling the tonnage shipped overseas to 87 000 tonnes compared to 43 000 tonnes in 2005. But considering that 81 400 tonnes were exported from Europe in July 2004, it is clear that the Finnish situation is still having a considerable impact on last month's figures. The only region not to have doubled in export volume since last year is Africa, which remains flat year-on-year, but boasts a year-to-date rise of 179%.

Coated mechanical reels had another extremely positive month in the exports sector following on from the first positive results in 2006 for overseas shipments recorded in June. Figures were boosted by a 70% increase in shipments to Asia and the first rise in tonnage to North America of this year (59%) despite the year-to-date total for the region sitting at -12%.

Uncoated mechanical follows suit with a good level of exports and an increase in domestic demand and deliveries.

European mechanical papers statistics