A Study of the Paper and Printing Industry in Australia, conducted by the Printing Industries Association of Australia, also forecasts a steady growth for domestic paper and paperboard consumption, rising from 3.5 million tonnes in 2003 to more than four million by 2008.

Printing Industries acting CEO Philip Andersen says the study contained previously unavailable and unpublished information critical to all industry businesses planning for the sustainability of their enterprises.

“Individual sections cover instant print, paper imports, paper merchants, converting, sheetfed, web print, labels, books, greeting cards, paper packaging, print management, newspapers, print and delivery, digital print and print press manufacturing,” says Andersen.

“International markets are included with special emphasis on China and its likely impact on print and paper markets.”

The study suggests that while Australia is a small paper market, it has a modest but increasing rate of per capita consumption in comparison to equivalent consumer regions like North America and Europe.

The study also found that more than 70 per cent of larger printing organisations are considering internal process improvements to deliver better profit margins and that the industry will continue to experience consolidation as larger players seek to build a competitive advantage through scale economies.

It includes research into:
• Current and future profit and capital expenditure trends;
• Paper consumption by types of paper, grade and grammage;
• Import and export trends for paper products and printed matter;
• The impact of digital and electronic media and the internet;
• Current and future environmental pressures.

A Study of the Paper and Printing Industry in Australia can be purchased from Printing Industries.

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