EU Paper Hand Towels Market Grew 2.7% to $3.6B in 2018

IndexBox has just published a new report: 'EU - Paper Hand Towels - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights'. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

The revenue of the paper hand towels market in the European Union amounted to $3.6B in 2018, surging by 2.7% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). Over the period under review, paper hand towels consumption continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2008 when the market value increased by 11% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the paper hand towels market attained its peak figure level at $4.2B in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2018, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Consumption By Country in the EU

The countries with the highest volumes of paper hand towels consumption in 2018 were the UK (330K tonnes), Germany (320K tonnes) and France (313K tonnes), with a combined 45% share of total consumption. Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Denmark lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 40%.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of paper hand towels consumption, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by Belgium, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest paper hand towels markets in the European Union were the UK ($790M), Germany ($518M) and France ($462M), with a combined 49% share of the total market. These countries were followed by the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Hungary and the Czech Republic, which together accounted for a further 37%.

The countries with the highest levels of paper hand towels per capita consumption in 2018 were Austria (8,388 kg per 1000 persons), the Netherlands (8,094 kg per 1000 persons) and Denmark (7,973 kg per 1000 persons).

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of paper hand towels per capita consumption, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by Belgium, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Market Forecast 2019-2025 in the EU

Driven by increasing demand for paper hand towels in the European Union, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next seven-year period. Market performance is forecast to decelerate, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +1.4% for the seven-year period from 2018 to 2025, which is projected to bring the market volume to 2.4M tonnes by the end of 2025.

Production in the EU

In 2018, the production of paper hand towels in the European Union stood at 2.4M tonnes, surging by 1.5% against the previous year. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.4% from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2011 with an increase of 5.2% against the previous year. The volume of paper hand towels production peaked in 2018 and is likely to continue its growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, paper hand towels production amounted to $3.6B in 2018 estimated in export prices. Overall, paper hand towels production continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2008 with an increase of 15% year-to-year. The level of paper hand towels production peaked at $4.2B in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2018, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Production By Country in the EU

The countries with the highest volumes of paper hand towels production in 2018 were Italy (419K tonnes), Germany (402K tonnes) and France (302K tonnes), together accounting for 48% of total production. These countries were followed by Poland, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Greece and Portugal, which together accounted for a further 44%.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of paper hand towels production, amongst the main producing countries, was attained by Belgium, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports in the EU

The exports totaled 1.3M tonnes in 2018, leveling off at the previous year. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.0% over the period from 2007 to 2018; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded over the period under review. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2013 when exports increased by 7% against the previous year. Over the period under review, paper hand towels exports reached their maximum in 2018 and are expected to retain its growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, paper hand towels exports amounted to $2.6B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +2.5% from 2007 to 2018; however, the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being observed in certain years. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2011 when exports increased by 13% year-to-year. The level of exports peaked in 2018 and are expected to retain its growth in the near future.

Exports by Country

Germany (313K tonnes) and Italy (299K tonnes) were the key exporters of paper hand towels in 2018, amounting to near 23% and 22% of total exports, respectively. Poland (180K tonnes) ranks next in terms of the total exports with a 13% share, followed by France (10%) and Sweden (5%). The following exporters - Belgium (60K tonnes), the Netherlands (51K tonnes), Finland (35K tonnes), Spain (31K tonnes), Slovakia (30K tonnes), the UK (29K tonnes) and Portugal (25K tonnes) - together made up 20% of total exports.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of exports, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by Portugal, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest paper hand towels markets in the European Union were Germany ($658M), Italy ($536M) and France ($271M), together comprising 56% of total exports. These countries were followed by Poland, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, Finland, Slovakia and Portugal, which together accounted for a further 38%.

Among the main exporting countries, Poland recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to exports, over the last eleven years, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The paper hand towels export price in the European Union stood at $1,942 per tonne in 2018, increasing by 8.6% against the previous year. In general, the paper hand towels export price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2008 when the export price increased by 11% year-to-year. In that year, the export prices for paper hand towels reached their peak level of $2,254 per tonne. From 2009 to 2018, the growth in terms of the export prices for paper hand towels failed to regain its momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2018, the country with the highest price was the UK ($2,959 per tonne), while Poland ($1,419 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports in the EU

In 2018, the imports of paper hand towels in the European Union amounted to 1.1M tonnes, growing by 3.1% against the previous year. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% over the period from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being observed throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2010 with an increase of 5.9% against the previous year. The volume of imports peaked in 2018 and are expected to retain its growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, paper hand towels imports stood at $2.2B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +2.2% from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being observed over the period under review. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2008 with an increase of 13% y-o-y. The level of imports peaked in 2018 and are likely to continue its growth in the near future.

Imports by Country

In 2018, Germany (231K tonnes), distantly followed by France (149K tonnes), the UK (132K tonnes), Austria (68K tonnes), Belgium (68K tonnes), the Netherlands (67K tonnes) and the Czech Republic (61K tonnes) were the major importers of paper hand towels, together constituting 68% of total imports. Spain (49K tonnes), Sweden (47K tonnes), Poland (36K tonnes), Hungary (30K tonnes) and Denmark (30K tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of imports, amongst the main importing countries, was attained by the Czech Republic, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Germany ($400M), France ($309M) and the UK ($236M) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2018, together accounting for 43% of total imports. The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Spain, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Poland, Denmark and Hungary lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 40%.

Among the main importing countries, the Czech Republic recorded the highest growth rate of imports, over the last eleven-year period, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The paper hand towels import price in the European Union stood at $1,928 per tonne in 2018, rising by 6.7% against the previous year. In general, the paper hand towels import price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2008 when the import price increased by 9.4% against the previous year. In that year, the import prices for paper hand towels attained their peak level of $2,251 per tonne. From 2009 to 2018, the growth in terms of the import prices for paper hand towels remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Average prices varied somewhat amongst the major importing countries. In 2018, major importing countries recorded the following prices: in Denmark ($2,221 per tonne) and the Netherlands ($2,121 per tonne), while the Czech Republic ($1,488 per tonne) and Hungary ($1,694 per tonne) were amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the Netherlands, while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform