Romanian paper industry seeks energy and recycling measures as domestic output falls
Romania’s corrugated board market grew about 0.5% in the first half of 2026, while domestic corrugating paper production fell by more than 6%. ROMPAP is seeking lower and more predictable energy costs, priority access to recovered paper and measures addressing import pressure.
Domestic production loses ground
Romania’s corrugated board market expanded by about 0.5% in the first half of 2026 to 235,192 tonnes, while domestic production of paper used for corrugated board declined by more than 6% to 240,277 tonnes. The figures, published by ROMPAP and reported by Forbes Romania, Ziua Cargo and Bursa, show demand stabilising as local paper mills lose market share.
ROMPAP president Paul-Henri Kohler said Romania risked becoming increasingly dependent on imports despite having industrial capacity and a significant supply of recyclable raw material. The association represents 19 members with annual revenue exceeding €1 billion and about 5,000 employees, according to Ziua Cargo. Its members export approximately 25% of their annual turnover.
Energy costs and recovered paper constrain mills
Energy accounts for about 25%-30% of paper production costs and can reach 35%, according to ROMPAP. The association said price volatility directly affects operating decisions and investment. It is asking the authorities to introduce a CISAF electricity scheme quickly, raise the share of ETS revenue used to compensate indirect costs from 15% to 25%, and establish a transitional mechanism to stabilise gas costs.
Access to recovered fibre is the second concern. About 94% of the raw material used to make paper for corrugated board comes from paper and board waste, while more than 95% of the fibre used by Romanian producers is recycled. However, more than 30% of the recovered paper collected in Romania is exported. Shipments increased from about 169,000 tonnes in 2022 to 250,000 tonnes in 2025.
Industry seeks to retain investment and recycling value
ROMPAP wants mechanisms that prioritise domestic use of recovered paper and permit controls on exports to non-EU countries when local industrial demand is not covered. Its proposals also include adding paper and board to pre-emption mechanisms, rewarding the use of recycled content and granting incentives for volumes actually recycled in Romania. Such measures would shift policy attention from collection alone to domestic processing.
The sector has invested more than €200 million over the past two to three years in areas including energy efficiency, green energy, biogas and emissions reduction. ROMPAP argues that predictable input costs and access to raw material are necessary to preserve those investments and support further spending.
The association’s production base includes four mills with annual capacity of 520,000 tonnes of paper for board, four tissue mills capable of producing 185,000 tonnes a year and 14 corrugated packaging plants with annual output of 450,000 tonnes. Those packaging plants cover more than 90% of Romanian demand, according to Ziua Cargo. The immediate policy question is therefore not whether Romania has production assets, but whether mills can operate them competitively as energy remains expensive, recovered fibre leaves the country and imported paper exerts pressure on the domestic market.
