The market in a singular moment, Carlos Muriel, Sales & Marketing Director, Pasaban, S.A.

PAPERTECHNOLOGYINTERNATIONAL
3. Pharmaceutical Products
In the second half of 2020, the rollout of vaccines and
related medicines also triggered growth in demand for packaging
board for medicinal products, as well as paper for leaflets and
instructions.
Many converters experienced production peaks, giving rise
to cautious optimism that the pandemic might soon be over.
4. Environmental Awareness and Sustainability
The pandemic also accelerated awareness around
sustainability. Consumers and businesses began demanding
greener products, prompting the paper and board industry to invest
in more sustainable processes, recycling, and the development of
lower-impact products.
This is, of course, an ongoing issue that continues to evolve
and be addressed.
5. Product and Process Innovation
In 2022–2023, the need to adapt quickly led to innovation in
manufacturing, such as the adoption of more efficient technologies
and the diversification of products, including lighter and more
durable packaging solutions, and paper products for medical and
hygiene applications.
6. Resilience and the Pursuit of Economic Recovery
From 2023 onwards, despite ongoing challenges, the
industry has demonstrated a high level of resilience. Global
economic recovery has driven greater demand for paper and board
products, particularly in sectors such as e-commerce, food, and
personal hygiene.
Looking at how these changes have affected the paper and
board industry, we can affirm that the pandemic has acted, in many
ways, as a catalyst for its transformation. The rise in packaging
demand has spurred innovation and expansion, while growing
environmental consciousness has led to greater investment in
sustainability. However, challenges also remain, including the need
to swiftly adapt to shifts in demand and supply chains.
In short, the paper and board industry has proven flexible
and capable of innovation during difficult times, preparing for a more
sustainable and digital future. Nevertheless, further developments
present additional difficulties.
7. International Conflicts and Geopolitical Tensions
In the 2022–2023 period, various regions experienced
conflicts and tensions, notably the war between Russia and Ukraine,
which have had global repercussions across economic, security, and
international policy spheres.
The Russia-Ukraine war has impacted the global paper
and board industry. Conflicts of this magnitude have disrupted
supply chains, driven up raw material costs, and affected resource
availability.
Russia is one of the world’s leading producers of wood pulp,
so disruptions in production or exports led to shortages and cost
increases. Additionally, economic sanctions and trade restrictions
made importing and exporting these materials more difficult,
affecting businesses and consumers across many countries.
Some Eurozone nations experienced inflation peaks of over
10% at their worst moments—Finland, a key player in the paper
and board industry, being a prime example. This situation caused
a sharp rise in energy prices, reducing the viability of raw material
production. As a result, many factories were forced into temporary
shutdowns and layoffs due to falling demand and the market’s
inability to absorb rising costs.
In summary, the war in Ukraine has added to price volatility
and created further challenges for the paper and board supply chain,
generating uncertainty and necessitating the search for alternatives
or diversification in raw material sourcing.
8. Policies of the New US Administration
While the US’s policies on the European paper and board
industry have been indirect, they have nonetheless had a notable
impact. Though Trump-era policies were largely domestic in focus,
actions such as trade tariffs, sanctions, and international tensions
have had global effects.
Trade tariffs and disputes between the US and China directly
influenced raw material costs and global logistics, thereby affecting
production costs and the paper and board supply chain in Europe.
Furthermore, global trade tensions created an atmosphere of
uncertainty in international markets, influencing investment decisions
and trade stability. In this context, capital goods manufacturers like
Pasaban have been particularly affected by economic volatility and a
lack of predictability.
To summarise, these policies have either directly or indirectly
impacted Europe, contributing to a more volatile global economic
environment, which has affected costs, resource availability, and
business strategies within the European paper and board industry.
Figure 2: (Left) Side joggers on the stacking section.
Figure 3: (Below) Decurling stations.
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