Apr 02, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Paper and cardboard output in the Czech Republic declined by 10% year-on-year to 924 thousand tonnes in 2008, while in the previous ten years it had been growing, as the Association of the Czech Pulp and Paper Industry (ACPP) informed Lesprom Network. According to Papir a celuloza (Paper and Pulp) editor-in-chief Milos Lesikar, the fall was mainly caused by the wind-up of the paper mill in Steti, north Bohemia, last May and the closure of the paper mill in Bela pod Bezdezem, central Bohemia, in the autumn. The Steti plant, which specialised in newsprint production, had a dominant position in the Czech Republic in this field. "Shutting down Norske Skog's facility in Steti means production will decrease by 55 thousand tonnes in H2," Jaroslav Tauc of the ACPP said earlier. The paper mill in Bela produced about 24 thousand tonnes of paper annually. The paper mill Olsanske papirny, the closure of which affected domestic production slightly as well, ended production due to insolvency in mid-December. It had produced around 75 thousand tonnes of paper annually. Paper and cardboard exports went down by 6% annually, the largest drop being recorded in the category of hygienic paper. The exports, accounting for about 80% of total domestic production, amounted to nearly 740 thousand tonnes of paper and cardboard. As the total paper consumption last year stagnated at 1.550 million tonnes, domestic demand was satisfied mainly from imports amounting to 1.365 million tonnes. The Czech paper industry mostly produces packaging and technical papers, most of which go for export. On the contrary, most of paper products with higher value added are imported to the Czech Republic. "Paper consumption per capita remained almost the same in 2008 as in 2007 thanks to virtually unchanged overall consumption," Lesikar said. An average Czech consumes nearly 150 kilogrammes of paper annually. In spite of continuing growth, Czech consumption still legs behind the EU level. Domestic pulp production last year fell by 10% to 702 thousand tonnes year-on-year, mainly due to the end of wood pulp production in Norske Skog. The production of paper products recorded a 2% year-on-year drop to 528 thousand tonnes last year. Corrugated cardboard production decreased by 3% year-on-yea to 452,460 tonnes. The paper industry last year used 10% less of scrap paper (419 thousand tonnes). Domestic consumption of paper production grew by 12% to 561 thousand tonnes, while corrugated cardboard consumption stayed flat at about 401 thousand tonnes. "This year should remain unchanged compared to the end of 2008, Lesikar said. Total production should, however, be increased following the planned opening of a new plant of the company Mondi in Steti, he added.