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Product demand should rebound for manufacturers of wood pulp, paper and paperboard products in 1998, and this will result in higher product prices. Problems with Asian economies could reduce the performance of US-based paper and paperboard companies, which are expected to generate 96.2 million tons of product in 1998. Consolidation of the pulp and paper industries in North America during the 1996-1997 period will result in globally competitive companies in 1998., Following a lengthy period of inventory destocking, the U.S. paper industry enters 1998 with good underlying demand for its products. Strong U.S. consumer spending and industrial output growth will lead [...]

The U.S. paper and pulp companies expect a slower recovery in 1997 due to economic fluctuations and product price instability registered between 1995-1996. Growth in product demand will boost pulp and paper industry production levels and product prices in 1997 according to industry analysts. The industry also expects the Environmental Protection Agency to revise the Cluster Rule related to pulp and paper mills' pollutant emissions., Following the turbulent swings in pulp and paper markets over the past two years, most companies are going into 1997 with lowered expectations. This partially reflects the continuing price weakness [...]

Paper mill managers are concerned about the profitability of their operations in 1997, according to an annual survey of North American mill manager's conducted by Pulp & Paper magazine. Concerns about foreign competition and overcapacity have contributed to the cautious outlook. Problems with operations, maintenance and quality are the most pressing for mill managers., Unstable markets and a shaky outlook for the coming year have North America's pulp and paper mill managers apprehensive about the profitability of their operations as well as their own [...]

Just at the time that the paper and pulp industries retooled to meet the challenges of the 1990s, the market narrowed dramatically due to government regulations, environmental concerns, and other factors. The industry is likely to find widening future markets in Latin America, Asia, and parts of Africa, if it is willing to tolerate limitations of the infrastructure and political instability. Domestically, the industries will likely undergo considerable consolidation and concentrate on developing value products., THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING. COMPANY restructuring, redefining of markets, downsizing, mergers and acquisitions, a restrictive business climate, and stagnating consumption growth. All of these have occurred in some form during [...]

Makers of coated paper are using increasing quantities of minerals, including calcium carbonate, according to Harry Bigelow, VP of Technology for Omya Inc. Bigelow reports that paper with multiple coatings is produced more often in Europe than in the US. Predictions for the industry include increased production of aseptic packaging for food products., The use of minerals in paper machine wet ends has been steadily increasing during the past 50 years, especially in Europe. In the past quarter century, North American mills have [...]

The paper industry is expected to do well during 1996, despite the anticipated slowdown in the economy. Profits and mill operating rates are expected to decrease during the first half of 1996, due to an inventory correction, but may rise during the second half of the year. Economic growth is expected to reach 3% to 3.5 % during the first six months and 2% during the latter part of the year., After two strong years of expansion and growth, the outlook for the U.S. paper and forest products industry in 1996 remains generally favorable. However, most economists have forecast a slowdown [...]

Canadian paper and pulp manufacturers are entering 1996 with cautious strategies, although the industry has been recovering from the recession during the early 1990s. Most companies have restructured and have experienced healthy profits during the 3rd qtr 1995. However, political factors, such as the defeat of the Quebec referendum, have resulted in uncertainty for the industry., Since the recession of the early 1990s, a period in which the Canadian pulp and paper industry lost a staggering C$5.1 billion between 1991 and 1993, the industry has steadily [...]

A survey of North American paper and pulp mill managers reveals an overwhelming consensus that the industry will experience good to excellent results in 1996. Of the surveyed managers, 33% predicted that the industry would have a good year in 1996, while 51% predicted that the industry would have an excellent year. No managers predicted that the industry would have a poor year. The survey reveals that most mills are planning small capital projects for 1996., NORTH AMERICA'S PULP AND PAPER MILL managers say their mills in general experienced financial success in 1995, and although some are not as positive about 1996, most expect the good [...]

The outlook for 1995 is extremely healthy for paper, pulp and related industries. Economic growth in the US is predicted at 2.8% in 1995, but pulp and paper should grow 3-3.5%, benefitting from increased overseas demand for paper. Paper firms are well positioned to take advantage of the expanding economy, having undergone restructuring that has left them more efficient and better able to compete internationally., PULP, PAPER, AND PAPERBOARD PRODUCTION IN the U.S. is forecast to grow faster than the overall economy in 1995. Although the expansion of the U.S. economy is likely to be [...]

General trends for the North American economy reflect a 3.5% growth in 1994 and an increase in the demand for paper products. Nevertheless, it is predicted that paper and paperboard prices will not achieve peak levels similar to the 1988-99 period. This will be due to low inflation and emphasis on value pricing. Emphasis on low cost will lead to the development and use of alternative recycled-fiber sources., NORTH AMERICAN PULP AND PAPER COMPANIES will see improved earnings this year--even without the benefit of large price increases. The North American economy is forecast to grow at 3.5% in [...]

Canadian forest products companies reported gains in earnings for 1993 but low prices for newsprint and market pulp continue to cause an industrial slump. Nevertheless, wood product prices increased in 1993 and this is expected to go on if the Canadian dollar continues to maintain its levels at Dec 1993 values. Market forecasts for the newsprint and market pulp sectors remain poor due to oversupply and competition from Scandinavian producers.

Uncoated and coated groundwood paper manufacturers are experiencing a growth in demand from end users. Industry observers believe that recession-related pricing woes and declining demand will undergo a reversal starting 1993. Coated paper producers disclosed that an average 7% price hike in coated groundwood papers will be implemented in the spot market in May and Jun 1993. On the other hand, the uncoated groundwood segment is implementing a discount reduction on all grades except SC-A., Coated, uncoated groundwood mills try price hikes in wake of increasing demand, but face new competition Producers of uncoated and coated groundwood papers are finally seeing markets tighten as demand [...]

The US paper industry benefited immensely from its printing and writing paper sectors during the 1980s. Pulp and Paper Forecaster Services editor Kenneth E. Lowe projected that the industry will only experience evident growth between 1993 and 1997. Tonnage, particularly in US exports, is expected to rise substantially. Uncoated free-sheet papers will post the highest tonnage with an annual increase of 3% during the 1990s. Lowe is also optimistic about the growth potential of higher quality grades of paper., Demand for coated and uncoated grades will continue to be high during 1993-2002 period; low-cost mill base, free trade to boost exports Printing and writing papers have been a key [...]

The 1993 forecast for the US paper and pulp industry is relatively optimistic provided the economy recovers from the recession. The exports, which are expected to rise by 5% in 1992, will mainly be responsible for the anticipated growth in the industry in 1993. The export rise will also result in better operating rates, increased shipments and higher prices. The recession, however, will slightly hamper the early part of 1993 and growth will only be evident by the 2nd half 1993., U.S. suppliers are ready for a dynamic year of global competition after record investments The U.S. industry will strengthen its leadership position in the worldwide production of pulp, paper, and [...]

The good news from Canada is that its general economy emerged from recession in the second quarter of 1991, and, despite subsequent sluggishness, the Canadian government expects economic conditions to [...]

Companies Try to Ride out Recession After Year of Labor Unrest, Profit, Losses As 1990 forest products industry earnings plummeted, most Canadian paper industry executives expressed hope that 1991 would [...]

U.S. Paper Industry Will Manage Economic Slowdown This Year The U.S. paper industry is prepared for the economic slowdown that began in fourth-quarter 1990 and is expected to continue in [...]

New Market Pulp Capacity Means Producers May Face Trying Times Current capacity additions will be twice that of the past decade, overshadowing expanded international markets for paper and pulp The [...]

PAPER/BOARD CAPACITY EXPANSIONS WILL EXCEED DEMAND GROWTH BY 1992 Pulp And paper companies in the U.S. will add 8.6 million short tons of manufacturing capacity over the next three years, [...]

COMPANIES BRACED FOR YEAR OF LABOR TALKS, LOW PROFITS, AND SHUTDOWNS The year ahead will be tough one for the Canadian industry. Already suffering from the pounding taken from exchange [...]

U.S. PAPER INDUSTRY IS PREPARED FOR CYCLICAL SLOWDOWN THIS YEAR The U.S. paper industry's three-year period of soaring prices and profits reached a peak in third-quarter 1989. By the end [...]

Woodyards will soon be modernized to catch up with the optimization processes that have increased the efficiency of pulp making, paper making, finishing, and converting processes. Forces that will most affect woodland modernization include digester demands, raw material access, environmental factors, and a variety of costs. Debarking processes and chip quality are two areas that will see great advances., According to many industry experts, the fiber supply developments listed in the box on this page are emerging as woodyards are modernized to match the optimization of other pulp and [...]

The use of mechanical pulping to produce bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp (BCTMP) is expected to increase, in spite of the demand for recycled paper. Hardwoods such as aspen, birch and maple produce excellent high-grade paper and paperboard. Many of Canada's softwoods and hardwoods are well suited to BCTMP production. Market trends in the papermaking industry point to less differentiation between types of paper., The past few years have been very difficult times for the pulp and paper industry. Depressed markets, coupled with significant new capacity coming on line, resulted in lower prices for [...]

Corporate consolidations and mergers in the paper machine clothing sector have made a significant impact on the paper mills. The relationship between the two sectors is being redefined such that priority is given to product quality, overall sales and servicing efficiency. Paper machine clothing vendors are predicting modest gains in 1993 while the outlook for 1994 is very encouraging., Paper machine clothing vendors see relationship with paper companies becoming more focused on product quality and overall sales and servicing efficiency Several consolidations and acquisitions/mergers have occurred in the paper [...]

Industrial, Business, and Marketing Trends During the remainder of this decade and into the twenty-first century, several distinct business and marketing trends will continue to influence paper machine developments. These [...]

U.S. Paper Industry Prepared for Slower Economic Pace, Says Red Cavaney API president discusses market trends, industry's commitment to recycling at the one hundred thirteenth annual Paper Week The U.S. [...]

WE ARE IN AN ERA OF PROFOUND change. Paper companies are being, gobbled up in the interests of scale and reach. Other paper companies are shedding assets and businesses in [...]

* According to some views, buying and selling paper via the Internet will force radical Change on the pulp and paper industry as it expands THE EXPLOSION AND WIDE spread [...]

U.S. capacity to produce paper and paperboard will increase by an annual average of 0.7% over the next three years, according to the 40th annual Capacity Survey by the American [...]

THIS, THE FIRST ISSUE FOR THE YEAR 2000, includes several articles that set the stage for the upcoming year in the pulp and paper industry in North America. We are [...]

FORECAST (000 mtons) U.S. 2000e 1999e 1998 Production 6,529 6,326 6,503 Capacity 6,707 6,724 6,733 Utilization rate (%) 97.3 94.1 96.6 Average price 578 515 595 ($/mton) Exports 806 715 [...]

GLOBAL-SCALE COMPETITION CAUSING MILLS TO FOCUS ON COSTS, CURRENCIES Pulp and paper companies in Canada have come through a year of ups and downs that forced many more to realize [...]

U.S. PAPER INDUSTRY WILL BE NEAR PEAK PERFORMANCE LEVEL THIS YEAR High current operating rates and weak U.S. dollar are sources of strength as post-Reagan era begins; record capital spending [...]

The pulp and paper industry in Canada saw shipments increase 9.3% in 1994 to a record 28.9 million tons. Continued growth is expected, especially in the pulp industry, where exports increased more than 15% in 1994. Overall, pulp and paper shipments are expected to rise an additional 3.8% during 1995 to a record 30 million tons. The increase is based on general improvement in the worldwide economy, especially in parts of Asia such as Japan., Canada's pulp and paper industry reported a significant improvement in performance for the year just ended, and is projecting even better results for 1995, according to a forecast by the [...]

Parallel studies of non-managerial employees and executives of other industries show that there are changes ahead for the paper industry, which enjoys some of the best salaries and benefits in the nation. With corporate managers making over $100,000, supervisors make between $58,000-$65,000, while department heads make about $77,000. While 78% of paper industry professionals have 401-K plans, 86% have retirement pension plans and almost all employees have 100% free life insurance and medical benefits., ASA WHOLE, PROFESSIONALS IN THE PAPER industry are a happy lot. According to our recent salary and benefits survey of the industry, the median job morale ranking on a 1 [...]

The Canadian pulp and paper sector struggled financially in 1992. However, evident growth in shipment volumes suggest positive results in 1993. Overall shipments of pulp and paper in 1992 increased by 2.5% to 25.5 million metric tons. A 3.5% growth in shipments is forecasted for 1993, primarily because of demand increase in North America. Export growth in 1993 will be mixed due to the recession in Western Europe and Japan and the bullish economies of Latin America and Asia., The Canadian pulp and paper industry had a difficult year financially in 1992, but rising shipment volumes provide some reason for 'cautious optimism' about the year ahead, according to the [...]

Paper Machine Operators in the Year 2000 Sophistication of the twenty-first-century paper machine will require a thorough understanding of papermaking fundamentals, by not only mill management, vendors, and engineers who [...]

BARGAINING TRENDS POINT TO STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR MILLS IN THE 1990s Moderate wage hikes, fewer strikes, longer contracts, and increased employee involvement will lend stability to the industry The collective [...]

OUTLOOK. With no end in sight to the Asian financial crisis, which has brought an influx of newsprint to the U.S., sources expect the market will soften in 1999 following [...]

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HEARD OR read the dire predictions for the future of paper? One prophecy that I'm tired of hearing is that computers will completely replace the [...]

DESPITE MONTHS OF HOPEFUL THINKING by industry forecasters, managers and executives, the full impact of the problems in the global economy are hitting the paper industry. U.S. forest products exports [...]

Coated papers growth throughout the world will continue to be strong through 2001, with the bulk of the growth as a result of coated free-sheet capacity being installed in Asia. [...]