Consumables

The western European paper industry will experience major consolidation over the next one to three years, according to 40% of industry executives, a survey found.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) undertook the study, which also found that 30% of executives thought consolidation will occur in three to five years, while a handful believed it would happen in the next six months.

PwC’s online poll surveyed 80 forest, paper and packaging industry executives. Clive Suckling, global forest, paper and packaging leader at PwC, said: “The first step towards consolidation has taken place with the announced acquisition of M-real’s coated graphics papers business by Sappi.”