Western European production of printing and writing paper in 2004 was estimated to be 36.5 million tonnes and apparent consumption 30.5 million tonnes, up by about 6% on the previous year. Exports to other regions totalled about 7.3 million tonnes and imports 1 million tonnes. The main export markets were Asia and North America, with over 2 million tonnes each.

Newsprint production grew by 4% to 9.5 million tonnes, compared with demand of 9 million tonnes, 3% up on 2003. As exports to other regions increased modestly and imports from Canada declined, total deliveries grew by over 3%.

Western European production of cartonboard was estimated to be 6.1 million tonnes and demand 4.7 million tonnes, 5% up on 2003, including 2.9 million tonnes of white lined chipboard, 1.5 million tonnes of folding boxboard and 0.4 million tonnes of solid bleached sulphate board. Deliveries to Eastern Europe grew robustly to 0.7 million tonnes, and to other regions increased to 1.0 million tonnes.