Earlier this month, the UK Sheet Plant Association Conference heard that corrugated case materials supply is “tight”, “challenged”, the “availability is no longer a given” and the global Kraft paper deficit looks set to continue into 2018 and beyond.

The latest NOA research concurs : Unbleached Kraft production is close to capacity, globally. This can be attributed to a number of factors, including 2 recent major paper mill fires, the North American packaging market growing at +1% per annum above its capacity to produce materials and a global reticence for investment in new Kraft mill capacity. The paper packaging industry agrees that extra paper making capacity needs to come on board in 2018.

NOA delivers in-depth research and reports into paper and packaging trends, including paper shortages. A recent published NOA study looks at the effect that the Internet and New Generation Retailing is having on the European corrugated packaging market.

The NOA Research team can be contacted here.