Paper consumption in Vietnam is expected to increase by a minimum of13 percent annually until 2015, reaching 4.37 million tonnes by then,the fifth industry congress heard in HCM City on April 19.
Vu Ngoc Bao, general secretary of the Vietnam Pulp and PaperAssociation (VPPA), said: "Paper consumption in Vietnam remains low,just 30 kilogramme per capita per year compared to the world average of55kg."
Domestic production only meets around 58percent of the local demand. It was 1.5 million tonnes while demandtopped 2.6 milion tonnes last year, meaning the rest has to be imported,Bao said.
Most of the import is high-quality paper not produced in the country and for industrial use, he added.
The association said the outlook for the paper industry is bright, butfor sustainable development firms should focus more on improvingproduction and wastewater treatment technologies and training humanresources.
It also urged the Government to draftpolicies to encourage collection and use of recycled paper to reduceimport of raw materials.
"Globally 70 percent of paper production is from recycled paper, but in Vietnam the figure is far lower," it said.
It was a mere 34 percent last year compared to 75-78 percent in Japanand Germany and 65-78 percent in Vietnam 's neighbouringcountries.
The association advised businessesbuilding pulp and paper production plans to set up modern productionlines and manufacture high-quality coated papers used in printing andpackaging to replace imports.
It also advised them against making chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp and newsprint since their production exceeded demand.
The event was organised within the framework of the firstinternational exhibition on paper chemicals and technologies (Paper ChemTech) which opened on April 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and ConventionCentre.
The exhibition, the first of its kind heldin the country, features the latest machinery, equipment and accessoriesused in the paper industry from more than 60 exhibitors, includingthose from China , India , the Republic of Korea and Vietnam .
It is being organised by the Minh Vi Exhibition andAdvertisement Services Co Ltd and the China National ChemicalInformation Centre.
The three-day event is expected to attract more than 3,000 visitors.-VNA
Vu Ngoc Bao, general secretary of the Vietnam Pulp and PaperAssociation (VPPA), said: "Paper consumption in Vietnam remains low,just 30 kilogramme per capita per year compared to the world average of55kg."
Domestic production only meets around 58percent of the local demand. It was 1.5 million tonnes while demandtopped 2.6 milion tonnes last year, meaning the rest has to be imported,Bao said.
Most of the import is high-quality paper not produced in the country and for industrial use, he added.
The association said the outlook for the paper industry is bright, butfor sustainable development firms should focus more on improvingproduction and wastewater treatment technologies and training humanresources.
It also urged the Government to draftpolicies to encourage collection and use of recycled paper to reduceimport of raw materials.
"Globally 70 percent of paper production is from recycled paper, but in Vietnam the figure is far lower," it said.
It was a mere 34 percent last year compared to 75-78 percent in Japanand Germany and 65-78 percent in Vietnam 's neighbouringcountries.
The association advised businessesbuilding pulp and paper production plans to set up modern productionlines and manufacture high-quality coated papers used in printing andpackaging to replace imports.
It also advised them against making chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp and newsprint since their production exceeded demand.
The event was organised within the framework of the firstinternational exhibition on paper chemicals and technologies (Paper ChemTech) which opened on April 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and ConventionCentre.
The exhibition, the first of its kind heldin the country, features the latest machinery, equipment and accessoriesused in the paper industry from more than 60 exhibitors, includingthose from China , India , the Republic of Korea and Vietnam .
It is being organised by the Minh Vi Exhibition andAdvertisement Services Co Ltd and the China National ChemicalInformation Centre.
The three-day event is expected to attract more than 3,000 visitors.-VNA