United States – Owing to a significant increase in digital and on-line reading and filing, the massive downturn in consumption of newsprint as well as printings & writings is affecting the developing world, recovered paper specialist Bill Moore of Moore & Associates told the recent Waste Expo in Las Vegas, USA.
The drop in paper production and consumption is most notable in old newspapers (ONP), with Mr Moore describing use of this particular grade as ‘sluggish’. The President of Moore & Associates said this market is no longer seeing any interesting long-term or short-term investments. ‘There are zero facilities planned to make newsprint anywhere in the world – even China hasn’t built an ONP plant in five years,’ he added.
According to his findings, recovery rates for most developed economies have started to stagnate, thus allowing the ‘big, new tons’ to come from the developing world. Countries still boasting high recovery rates – such as Japan, the Netherlands, Austria and Germany – owe this to their high disposal costs, he reasoned. Meanwhile, the USA continues on its negative trajectory: Mr Moore predicts a total available supply for recovery of less than 8.7 million tonnes by 2015 – not even half of the 17.5 million tonnes witnessed in 2004.
The printings & writings sector, meanwhile, has recorded ‘a 25% loss in the last four years, with more to come’, the paper analyst noted.
Don't hesitate to contact us to share your input and ideas. Subscribe to the magazine or (free) newsletter.
Loading ...
