Liquid packaging paperboard industry of Japan in 97

Imported volume of the liquid packaging paperboard on a customs clearance basis in 97 was 235,251 tons or 3.8% negative growth as compared with the previous year. Irony was, however, that the share of this grade among the entire import increased by 1.4% to reach 14.6%, only to prove sluggishness of the import in 97. In the liquid packaging board scene, market shares of the suppliers began to change last year and will keep on changing in 98, too. One of the reasons behind this is the on-going restructuring in the U.S. It was certain that the unfavorable exchange rate for the yen was one of the major factors for slow growth in 97 but it was also obvious that rapidly prevailing small and large sized PET bottles gave negative influence to the paperboard packaging's growth. Here are analysis and future outlook of the liquid packaging in Japan.