Paper production in Europe decreased by 1.5% in 2025

In 2025, paper and cardboard production in CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries) member countries decreased by 1.5% to 77.6 million tons.

After a partial recovery in 2024 (+5.9%), the industry will decline again. Previously, the sector recorded a sharp decline of 12.9% in 2023. Since 2021, the cumulative decline in production in Europe has reached 18.2%. CEPI sees this trend as a combination of various factors: economic slowdown, elevated energy costs, regulatory pressures, and tension in international trade.

The packaging segment remains the most stable, accounting for 63.9% of total production. In 2025, it showed slight growth of +0.2%. At the same time, volumes are still 6.8% below the record level of 2021. On the other hand, the graphic paper segment (for newspapers, magazines, and catalogs) continues to decline. In 2025, production decreased by 7.2%, and the share of this segment fell to 20.8% (22% in 2024); in particular:

• newsprint — down 7.5%;
• printing and writing paper — down 7.2%;
• mechanical paper (coated and uncoated) — down 10.7% and 10.8%;
• wood-free paper — down 4.7% (uncoated) and 5.5% (coated).

The decline in the graphic paper segment also affected secondary raw material usage: recycled paper consumption in the CEPI countries fell by 1.3%, and the use of waste paper from newspapers and magazines dropped by 16%.

Exports of paper and cardboard outside CEPI fell by 4.4%:

• In Asia — down 15%;
• in countries neighboring Europe — down 5.5%;
• in North America — down 2.7%.

The only region to show growth was Latin America (+17.4%), while imports to CEPI countries fell by 4.3% and accounted for around 8% of total consumption.

Despite the decline, Europe’s figure (-1.5%) appears relatively stable compared to other developed markets. The U.S., Japan, Canada, and South Korea saw decreases ranging from -1.9% to -5.7%. China was the only major market with notable growth (+2.9%), while global production remained nearly unchanged from 2024 (+0.3%).

The full CEPI report, Key Statistics 2025, is scheduled to be released in July 2026.

CEPI represents more than 500 companies in the forestry and bio-based products sector, which operate around 890 businesses in Europe and provide 180,000 jobs.

In 2022, Russian publishers called for the temporary abolition of customs duties on imports of coated paper, as Russia is facing a paper crisis and a printing shortage. Due to sanctions, Russian paper manufacturers were forced to look for alternative suppliers.

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Source: rynek-ksiazki.pl

Main image: exp-print.com.ua

Copy editing: Joy Tataryn