Envelopes post massive import increase - Pulp & Paper Edge

The failure of Australian Envelopes has given the local industry an import hangover.

Imports of envelopes have doubled from 150 million units to over 320 million in the quarter, following the manufacturer’s shock demise.

The mammoth logistical task of integrating former Envotec assets into Australian Office operations around the country is keeping domestic production of envelopes down. The former manufacturer’s market share was estimated to be around 50 per cent.

According to the latest issue of industry bible, Pulp & Paper Edge, the capacity of the fallen envelope giant would have been around two billion envelopes per annum.

So a rise of 150 million in imports for a quarter would be on the low side when considering full replacement of capacity. However, there would have been stock on hand at the time of the transition, and it is understood Australian Office was efficient in the continued running of the operations at Ferntree Gully Road in Melbourne.

Quarterly Envelope Imports by Country: MQ’07 – SQ’11 (millions & AUDFob/k), from Pulp & Paper Edge Nov 2011.


The local shortfall has likely given Candida an opportunity to ramp up imports from its Auckland factory. The statistics clearly show imports from New Zealand have risen by 195% over the last quarter. The largest envelope manufacturer that side of the pond is Candida Stationary.