The paper industry and the Finnish national economy
Output in Finland’s paper industry is influenced by the demand for its products in export markets, investments that increase production capacity, and the possible closure of older units. The relatively stable growth prospects of the international economy suggest that demand for paper industry products will remain satisfactory on average. For the time being, the rise in living standards in developing and emerging countries — which is increasing demand for writing and printing papers — is dampening the impact of the declining trend in paper demand in developed countries, which reduces the risk of closures of existing machines. The forecast also assumes that investments in a couple of new pulp mills will begin in 2018–2019. This will admittedly have little time to affect output in 2019 yet. However, the new Äänekoski mill will increase pulp production in 2017–2019 from the 2016 level. New capacity is very clearly coming to Finland’s paperboard industry within the next few years. These will not have time to enter production in 2017–2019 either, however. In paper manufacturing, at most an improvement in the efficiency of existing capacity or a slight increase in its utilisation rate comes into question. In paper manufacturing there is also the risk of closures of older units. (AI translation)
