The corrugated board industry is proving to be robust during the coronavirus crisis. This is the conclusion drawn by the German Association of the Corrugated Board Industry (VDW). Nevertheless, the economic pressure on corrugated board manufacturers is increasing.
According to the association, its members recorded a decline in sales of 1.1% in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same period of the previous year, adjusted for working days. In absolute figures, this corresponds to a decline of around 21.6 million m2 of corrugated board. In total, the companies organised in the VDW sold 1.91 billion m2 from April to June.
Stable sales in the corrugated board industry
In contrast, working day-adjusted sales remained stable throughout the first half of 2020. Overall, companies sold just under 4 billion m2 . This is 39.6 million more than in the first half of 2019 and corresponds to a slight increase of 0.2 per cent on a working day basis.
"The Food and luxury food industry is our most important customer, accounting for every third square metre of corrugated board sold. The special economic situation in the food retail sector in March and April therefore had a noticeable impact on our members with exceptional growth rates of 4.7 and 2.3 per cent respectively." Dr Oliver WolfrumVDW Managing Director
However, the corrugated cardboard industry is initially developing in the opposite direction. This is because the general Consumer reluctance to spend and the Tense overall economic situation led to a decline in sales in May and June. These were 2.5 and 3.4 per cent compared to the same period last year.
"However, the economic research institutes are expecting a significant recovery in the third and fourth quarters. In industrial production, for example," says Wolfrum. "Our industry will also benefit from this."
Critical revenue situation
The VDW Managing Director takes a critical view of the earnings situation of manufacturers in the corrugated board industry. Average revenues fell by 6.9 per cent in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period last year. Specifically, from 57.5 cents to an average of 53.6 cents per square metre. However, the cost side is developing in the opposite direction.
"While our members' revenues have been falling since the beginning of the year, paper prices have risen significantly in the first half of the year," says Wolfrum. "This increases the economic pressure on corrugated board manufacturers."
Source: Association of the Corrugated Board Industry
