China to become number one net exporter of boxboard by 2014

BOSTON, Oct.16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite fairly slow growth in domestic demand China has maintained an aggressive capacity expansion plan which will result in a significant market imbalance over the next two to three years. Given the precarious state of the global economy and relatively weak domestic demand Chinese producers will be eager to export excess tonnage. These findings were published today in the 2012 World Boxboard Study by RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry.

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"During the last decade, demand for boxboard declined in the mature markets of North America, Western Europe, Japan, and Oceania. Producers in those markets began exporting to developing markets that were experiencing significant growth rates of approximately 7% per year from 2001 to 2010. By 2011, Asia represented 42% of the total world boxboard demand," said Ken Wagerhorne Vice President of Packaging at RISI.

"China has responded aggressively to this demand. We estimate that by 2013 close to 8.8 million tonnes of additional boxboard capacity will come online there. As Asia quickly takes the lead in global exports, producers in Europe and North America will face increasing competitive pressure," continued Wagerhorne.  

RISI's 2012 World Boxboard Study shows how these and other events impact the global boxboard market. The study provides current and forecasted global demand and trade patterns using a rationalized global grade system.

2012 World Boxboard Study Includes

• Grade-level demand, supply, and trade analysis of the global cartonboard market.
• Global trade patterns for each major grade.
• Analysis of world regions that will experience the strongest growth during the next five years.

For more information on the 2012 World Boxboard Study, visit www.risi.com/worldbox

About RISI (www.risi.com)

Owned by UBM plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. The company works with clients in the pulp and paper, wood products, timber, biomass, tissue, nonwovens, printing and publishing industries to help them make better decisions.

Headquartered in Boston, MA, RISI operates additional offices throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia.

About UBM plc (www.ubm.com)

UBM plc is a leading global company. We inform markets and bring the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print and provide them with the information they need to do business successfully. We focus on serving professional commercial communities, from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. Our 6,000 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

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