Ceepackaging

Analysis

Recovery in Eastern Europe driving demand for labels

Bucked up by a buoyant Labelexpo 2009, held in Brussels, where talk of future investment was the main subject among exhibitors and visitors, the latest Trend Survey for the third quarter has confirmed the return of business confidence but also indicates the volatility it has been faced with during the last two years.

After a dramatic all-time low in the first quarter of 2009 in all sectors, the business climate has returned to positive figures in the third quarter of 2009.

FINAT’s managing director, Jules Lejeune, said: “This is encouraging but in day-to-day trading label producers are still seeing a reduction in demand – as is to be expected in the economic conditions we have seen in the last year.

“Total demand for self-adhesive label materials in Europe decreased by minus 1.7% in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the same quarter of last year. Although still in the red, this decrease is markedly lower than the minus 11.6% (Q2) and minus 12.1% (Q1) year-on-year recorded for the previous two quarters.

“It should be realised, however, that the crisis first hit our sector in the third quarter of 2008 and the first two periods of that year were still buoyant. The slowdown of the deceleration pace in our sector confirms cautious signs of economic recovery that have become evident since the summer.”

For the year to date, total labelstock demand in Europe was 8.3% below the levels recorded in the first three quarters of 2008. This figure corresponds with decreases of 7.5% in paper roll demand, 6.1% in filmic roll demand and a dramatic downturn of 22.9% in sheets.

Compared to the third quarter of 2008, filmic rolls have taken the lead in the return to positive year-on-year growth rates. Regionally, the recovery appears to be driven by demand in Eastern Europe, although the source of this growth lies mainly in the countries outside the European Union, which were hit earlier by the crisis in 2008.