The Niche Payoff

Each year, the PPC partners with RISI to publish Trends, a portfolio of data analysis, forecasting, and benchmarking reports affecting the paperboard packaging industry. At mid year, it releases an abbreviated report. This year's report further corroborates the assertion that pockets of the industry are performing well, while others not as well. According to the mid-year report, in which RISI reports on statistics and forecasts for 17 end-use paperboard packaging markets, five of these markets are expected to grow at a pace of 1.0 percent or more per year through 2013, including one with forecast growth more than twice that rate. Six others will shrink more than 1.0 percent per year, and three of these are expected to shrink at a rate around 5.0 percent per year. So, while there is growth, it's a mixed bag.