Paper and cardboard manufacturers doing fairly well

Within Dutch manufacturing industry paper and cardboard products did relatively well in the period 2000-2003. Turnover and value added levelled off, whereas manufacturing industry as a whole was in decline. In spite of the recession, the branch has strengthened its position on the Dutch market.

Stable turnover

In 2003 turnover of paper and cardboard products was only 1.5 percent down on 2000. Turnover of Dutch manufacturing industry as a whole dropped by 5 percent in the same period. The value added of paper and cardboard products was 1.3 percent down on 2000, whereas Dutch manufacturing industry as a whole was 4.1 percent down on 2000.

Turnover and value added paper and cardboard

Branch strengthens its position on the domestic market

From 2001, when the economic recession set in, the Dutch market for paper and cardboard (products) has been shrinking. In 2003 the market volume was 8.7 percent down on 2000. Compared with the peak year 2001 the decrease was even more significant, namely 10.5 percent. Domestic turnover of Dutch manufacturers of paper and cardboard products, however, was only 1.7 percent down on 2000 and thus fairly stable despite a dwindling domestic market.

Paper and cardboard (products): domestic market

Dwindling imports paper and cardboard (products)

Figures on foreign trade in paper and cardboard products confirm the picture that the decrease on the Dutch market is mainly to the detriment of foreign manufacturers. In 2003 the value of imported paper and cardboard products was 400 million euro down on 2000. Total import value of this category of products dropped from 5.6 billion euro in 2000 to 5.2 billion euro in 2003. Total export value in 2003 amounted to 5.0 billion euro, the same as three years ago.

Foreign trade paper and cardboard (products)

Cees Maas