Australia Sees Significant Drop in Wrapping Papers Export, Dipping to $79M in 2023

Australia Wrapping Papers Exports

In 2023, after two years of decline, there was significant growth in overseas shipments of wrapping paper, packaging paper and paperboard, when their volume increased by 15% to 118K tons. Overall, exports, however, continue to indicate a pronounced descent. The exports peaked at 151K tons in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2023, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, wrapping papers exports reduced to $79M (IndexBox estimates) in 2023. In general, exports, however, saw a noticeable decline. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 with an increase of 17%. The exports peaked at $108M in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2023, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

China (36K tons), New Zealand (20K tons) and Malaysia (7.8K tons) were the main destinations of wrapping papers exports from Australia, together accounting for 55% of total exports. the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Egypt lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 19%.

From 2013 to 2023, the biggest increases were recorded for India (with a CAGR of +26.4%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest markets for wrapping papers exported from Australia were China ($20M), New Zealand ($14M) and Malaysia ($6.5M), with a combined 51% share of total exports. the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Egypt lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 21%.

Among the main countries of destination, India, with a CAGR of +27.4%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports by Type

Kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, unbleached, weight 150g/m2 or less, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803 (63K tons), unbleached sack kraft paper, uncoated, in rolls of a width > 36 cm (53K tons) and kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, bleached, weight 150g/m2 or less, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803 (719 tons) were the main products of wrapping papers exports from Australia, with a combined 99% share of total exports. Paper and paperboard, corrugated (with or without glued flat surface sheets), creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated, in rolls or sheets other than those of heading no. 4803 or 4818, sack kraft paper, uncoated, in rolls of a width > 36 cm, paper and paperboard, coated on one or both sides with kaolin "china clay" or other inorganic substances, with or without a binder, and with no other coating, whether or not surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size, paper; greaseproof papers, in rolls or sheets, paper; vegetable parchment, in rolls or sheets, paper; glassine and other glazed transparent or translucent papers, in rolls or sheets, kraft paper and paperboard, bleached uniformly throughout the mass and containing > 95% chemically processed wood fibres by weight in relation to the total fibre content, coated on one or both sides with kaolin or other inorganic substances, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size, weighing <= 150 g/m and sulphite wrapping paper lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 0.7%.

From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the major product types, was attained by kraft paper and paperboard, bleached uniformly throughout the mass and containing > 95% chemically processed wood fibres by weight in relation to the total fibre content, coated on one or both sides with kaolin or other inorganic substances, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size, weighing <= 150 g/m (with a CAGR of +54.1%), while the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, unbleached sack kraft paper, uncoated, in rolls of a width > 36 cm ($42M), kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, unbleached, weight 150g/m2 or less, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803 ($34M) and paper and paperboard, corrugated (with or without glued flat surface sheets), creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated, in rolls or sheets other than those of heading no. 4803 or 4818 ($1.1M) appeared to be the most exported types of wrapping paper, packaging paper and paperboard from Australia worldwide, together accounting for 98% of total exports. Kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, bleached, weight 150g/m2 or less, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803, paper and paperboard, coated on one or both sides with kaolin "china clay" or other inorganic substances, with or without a binder, and with no other coating, whether or not surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size, sack kraft paper, uncoated, in rolls of a width > 36 cm, paper; greaseproof papers, in rolls or sheets, paper; glassine and other glazed transparent or translucent papers, in rolls or sheets, paper; vegetable parchment, in rolls or sheets, kraft paper and paperboard, bleached uniformly throughout the mass and containing > 95% chemically processed wood fibres by weight in relation to the total fibre content, coated on one or both sides with kaolin or other inorganic substances, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size, weighing <= 150 g/m and sulphite wrapping paper lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 2.1%.

Kraft paper and paperboard, bleached uniformly throughout the mass and containing > 95% chemically processed wood fibres by weight in relation to the total fibre content, coated on one or both sides with kaolin or other inorganic substances, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size, weighing <= 150 g/m , with a CAGR of +77.4%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, among the main product categories over the period under review, while shipments for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2023, the wrapping papers price stood at $676 per ton (FOB, Australia), falling by -23% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the export price recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 an increase of 24%. The export price peaked at $877 per ton in 2022, and then declined markedly in the following year.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Indonesia ($902 per ton), while the average price for exports to Egypt ($412 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Italy (+1.2%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform