Aspapel warns gas price surge erodes Spanish paper industry competitiveness

The Spanish paper and pulp association Aspapel has warned that gas prices up 50-100% versus prior years are undermining the sector's competitiveness, with paper and cardboard output down 3.2% and pulp output down 3.9% in the first half of 2026 versus the same period a year earlier. Export values fell 9.5% for paper and cardboard and 14.7% for pulp, while imports from Turkey and China rose 48.5% and 26% respectively between January and June, prompting the association to call for a dedicated support framework for heat-intensive industry.

Why this mattersPersistent energy cost gaps versus France and Germany raise the risk of production relocation and further share loss to non-EU pulp and paper producers.

• Aspapel says energy costs have risen at least 50%, with peaks near 100%, versus previous years.
• Spanish paper and cardboard output fell 3.2% and pulp output fell 3.9% in H1 2026 year-on-year.
• Export value dropped 9.5% for paper and cardboard and 14.7% for pulp in the period.
• Imports of paper and cardboard rose 48.5% from Turkey and 26% from China between January and June.
• AEGE data show Spanish electro-intensive consumers pay 28% more than in France and 13% more than in Germany after aid.
• The Alliance for the Competitiveness of Spanish Industry estimates an extra EUR 7.4bn cost across manufacturing by end-2026 from Strait of Hormuz tensions.

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