Asia continues growing board, box capacity

Asia's fast-growing containerboard capacity - principally in China - drove up box output from the region once again last year and increased Asia's share as the largest box-making region in the world, according to a report by the International Corrugated Case Assn.

A total of 53.03 billion m^sup 2^ of boxes were produced or shipped last year from China, where China has built its containerboard capacity by 10.3 million mtpy from 1997-2005, according to RISI. Asia's box output last year rose 9% year-over-year, and its regional share of world box volume last year rose to 35.5%. Asia's share of global box volume in 2003 was 34.2%.

Asia's 1.3% increase in volume came at the expense of North America and Europe. North America's box volume last year totaled 42.36 billion m^sup 2^, up 2.7% and representing 28.4% of global box output. In 2003, North America's share was 29%.

Europe's box volume last year totaled 40.86 billion m^sup 2^, up 1.7% and representing a 27.9% share of global box output. In 2003, Europe's share of global volume was 28.7%.

Total output of boxes in the world last year was 149.14 billion m^sup 2^, up 4.9% over 2003's total.

China has grown its containerboard capacity to total nearly 17.45 million tonnes this year, according to RISI. Another 2 million tonnes of containerboard capacity was scheduled in China this year. If those projects go ahead, China's containerboard capacity by the end of 2006 would equal 49% of North America's containerboard capacity. This year, China's total containerboard capacity was 44% of North America's containerboard capacity.