The Fastmarkets Forest Products Europe Conference, held from March 9–11 in Barcelona, brought together senior executives, analysts and suppliers from across the global pulp, paper and packaging value chain to discuss the key challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
Over three days of presentations and panel discussions, speakers addressed the complex market environment confronting European producers. Participants highlighted continued pressure on margins caused by energy costs, subdued demand in several paper grades and growing competition from global producers, particularly in Asia.
Market outlook sessions examined pulp price dynamics, recovered paper availability and the evolving balance between supply and demand in packaging grades. Analysts also discussed how shifts in global trade flows and capacity developments could reshape competitive conditions for European manufacturers in the coming years.
Regulation and sustainability were also central themes of the conference agenda. Industry experts reviewed the potential impact of major European initiatives—including the EU Deforestation Regulation, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism—on fibre sourcing, supply chains and long-term investment strategies. Several discussions also explored decarbonisation pathways for the pulp and paper sector, including electrification, biomass utilisation and emerging carbon-capture technologies.
The event also provided a platform to recognise industry leadership. During the conference, Andy Silvernail, CEO of International Paper, officially received the International CEO of the Year award, which had been announced earlier this year. In addition, Henrik Sjölund, CEO of Holmen, was honoured with the European CEO of the Year award, while Anita Sjölander, CEO of Nordic Paper, received the Industry Woman of the Year award from StepChange Consulting.
Alongside the conference sessions, the event offered extensive networking opportunities for participants across the forest products value chain, reinforcing its role as one of Europe’s key annual gatherings for the pulp, paper and packaging industries.
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