European labelstock rebounds in third quarter after paper shortage in Q2

In the third quarter, labelstock demand in Europe rebounded strongly, after a poor first half of the year caused by strike related paper shortages from Finland. For first three quarters as a whole, the European label industry recorded a modest growth of 1.7% compared to the same period last year. 

Compared to the third quarter in 2021, European consumption of paper roll labelstocks increased by no less than 11.9%, after a sharp YoY drop of 8.3 % in the previous quarter. For filmic roll label applications, demand compared to the same quarter in 2021 accelerated by a healthy plus of 8.4 %, compared to a modest year-on-year growth of 2.2 % in Q2.

Both trends indicate a strong rebound after the collapse that was caused by long lasting paper mill strikes in Finland since the beginning of the year, leading to severe paper shortages and lead times going up to 5-6 months for release liner and paper facestock applications. 

Now that backlogs are being completed, the key question remains how the general economic uncertainties will affect labelstock demand going forward.