ECMA maps out the European folding carton industry

‘In 2010, total output of European folding carton producers is expected to increase by around 3% to 4.7 million tones. This will correspond with a sales value of € 9.2 billion. Although is still below pre-crisis levels, carton makers will have regained a substantial part of the business volumes lost in the crisis years 2008 and 2009.
 
Following the strong recovery in demand in the second half of 2009 and early 2010, carton business is expected to grow by an average of 2 to 2.5% per annum (both in volume and sales value) for the next 5 years compared to their crisis base year 2009. This should lead the sector back to pre-crisis volumes by 2012. By 2014, carton business should again exceed the € 10 billion and 5 million tonnes benchmarks.’
 
These findings are published in the 2009/2010 edition of European Carton Prospects, the European folding carton market statistical data sourcebook, prepared by PRISM (UK), which was released at ECMA’s 50thanniversary congress held in Vienna last September. The 140 page report that covers both historic data from 2005 – 2009 and projections for the years up to 2014, is useful for business executives, marketers, budget planners and other professionals looking for representative market data and forecasts about the European folding carton sector, and can be obtained via ECMA’s website www.ECMA.org. 
 
At the anniversary congress, ECMA also presented a book in commemoration of 50 years of the Association. The book, entitled ‘United in Cartons’, was compiled and edited by former Secretary-General of the association Mans Lejeune. It presents a unique overview of the Association’s history in the context the industry’s post War and post Millennium evolution, but also contains possible scenarios for the future. It has now been distributed to ECMA members, and additional copies can be obtained from the ECMA secretariat at €10 excluding VAT.