Paper, Board Output in Sweden Declined in 2011
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Swedish paper and board production decreased by 0.9% to just below 11.3 million metric tons in 2011. Market pulp production also decreased by 0.9% from 2010 to 3.7 million metric tons, according to the Nordic Paper Journal. The year 2011 got off to a good start, but then production slowed down, as the general financial situation of many export markets weakened, according to figures from the Swedish Forest Industries Federation (Skogsindustrierna).
Still, last year's production figures appear more positive than they actually were, according to Skogsindustrierna, as production in 2010 was limited due to a conflict during the spring 2010 between Skogsindustrierna and the Swedish paper workers' union Pappers over a new collective agreement. Had the 2010 strike not occurred, Swedish pulp production in 2011 would have showed a 1.5% decrease, and paper and board production would have been down by 2%.
The total Swedish exports of market pulp went down by 4% to just under 3.1 million metric tons in 2011 compared with 2010. Deliveries of chemical pulp to the EU, excluding the Nordic countries, dropped by 9% to 2 million metric tons as a result of lower paper production in the EU.
Exports to Asia rose however, and Sweden saw China become its third single biggest pulp export market. Total shipments of chemical pulp to Asia jumped by almost 33% to 486,000 metric tons last year.
Swedish exports of paper and board to the EU decreased by 3%. Deliveries to Sweden's single biggest export country, Germany, remained flat at 2 million metric tons.
The total production of graphic papers in Sweden decreased marginally. Newsprint volumes fell by 2.2% to 2.1 million metric tons, while manufacturing of mechanical paper rose by 2.5% to 2 million metric tons.
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