Mexico's Folding Boxboard Price Falls Notably to $1,628 per Ton

Mexico Folding Boxboard Import Price in January 2023

In January 2023, the folding boxboard price amounted to $1,628 per ton (CIF, Mexico), declining by -9% against the previous month. In general, the import price, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in December 2022 when the average import price increased by 38% against the previous month. As a result, import price reached the peak level of $1,790 per ton, and then fell in the following month.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin: the country with the highest price was Germany ($3,329 per ton), while the price for Indonesia ($1,050 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to January 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Germany (+6.3%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Mexico Folding Boxboard Imports

Folding boxboard imports into Mexico reached 39K tons in January 2023, growing by 13% compared with the previous month. Over the period under review, imports, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in October 2022 with an increase of 37% m-o-m.

In value terms, folding boxboard imports expanded to $64M (IndexBox estimates) in January 2023. In general, imports recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in October 2022 when imports increased by 28% m-o-m. As a result, imports reached the peak of $92M. From November 2022 to January 2023, the growth of imports failed to regain momentum.

Mexico Folding Boxboard Imports by Type

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/m² (14K tons), paper and paperboard; multi-ply, coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances only, for non-graphic purposes, n.e.c. in heading no. 4810, in rolls or sheets (14K tons) and paper and paperboard, surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, coated, impregnated or covered with artificial resins or plastics, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size, bleached and weighing > 150 g/m² (2.8K tons) were the main products of folding boxboard imports to Mexico, with a combined 79% share of total imports. These products were followed by kraft paper and paperboard, coated on one or both sides with kaolin or other inorganic substances, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size (excluding that for writing, printing or other graphic purposes; paper and paperboard bleached uniformly in the mass and containing > 95% chemically processed wood fibres by weight in relation to the total fibre content), paper and paperboard, surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, coated, impregnated or covered with artificial resins or plastics, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size (excluding bleached and weighing > 150 g/m², and adhesives), kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight 225g/m2 or more, bleached uniformly throughout, more than 95% of total fibre content consists of chemically processed wood fibres, in rolls or sheets, paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight more than 150g/m2 but less than 225 g/m2, in rolls or sheets, n.e.c. in heading no. 4805, kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight 225g/m2 or more, in rolls or sheets, n.e.s. in item no. 4804.5, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803, kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, unbleached, weight 225g/m2 or more, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803, kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight more than 150g/m2 but less than 225g/m2, in rolls or sheets, n.e.s. in item no. 4804.4, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803 and kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight between 150 and 225g/m2, bleached uniformly throughout, more than 95% of total fibre content consists of chemically processed wood fibres, in rolls or sheets, which together accounted for a further 21%.

From January 2022 to January 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the major product types, was attained by kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight 225g/m2 or more, bleached uniformly throughout, more than 95% of total fibre content consists of chemically processed wood fibres, in rolls or sheets (with a CAGR of +22.8%), while imports for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the most traded types of folding boxboard in Mexico were paper and paperboard; multi-ply, coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances only, for non-graphic purposes, n.e.c. in heading no. 4810, in rolls or sheets ($21M), 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/m² ($20M) and paper and paperboard, surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, coated, impregnated or covered with artificial resins or plastics, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size (excluding bleached and weighing > 150 g/m², and adhesives) ($9M), together accounting for 78% of total imports. Paper and paperboard, surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, coated, impregnated or covered with artificial resins or plastics, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size, bleached and weighing > 150 g/m² , kraft paper and paperboard, coated on one or both sides with kaolin or other inorganic substances, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size (excluding that for writing, printing or other graphic purposes; paper and paperboard bleached uniformly in the mass and containing > 95% chemically processed wood fibres by weight in relation to the total fibre content), kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight 225g/m2 or more, bleached uniformly throughout, more than 95% of total fibre content consists of chemically processed wood fibres, in rolls or sheets, paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight more than 150g/m2 but less than 225 g/m2, in rolls or sheets, n.e.c. in heading no. 4805, kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight 225g/m2 or more, in rolls or sheets, n.e.s. in item no. 4804.5, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803, kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, unbleached, weight 225g/m2 or more, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803, kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight more than 150g/m2 but less than 225g/m2, in rolls or sheets, n.e.s. in item no. 4804.4, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803 and kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight between 150 and 225g/m2, bleached uniformly throughout, more than 95% of total fibre content consists of chemically processed wood fibres, in rolls or sheets lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 22%.

Mexico Folding Boxboard Imports by Country

In January 2023, the United States (23K tons) constituted the largest folding boxboard supplier to Mexico, accounting for a 60% share of total imports. Moreover, folding boxboard imports from the United States exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, China (7.9K tons), threefold. Chile (3.3K tons) ranked third in terms of total imports with an 8.4% share.

From January 2022 to January 2023, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of volume from the United States amounted to -1.0%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average monthly rates of imports growth: China (+6.3% per month) and Chile (+1.9% per month).

In value terms, the United States ($37M) constituted the largest supplier of folding boxboard to Mexico, comprising 58% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by China ($13M), with a 21% share of total imports. It was followed by Chile, with a 7.1% share.

From January 2022 to January 2023, the average monthly growth rate of value from the United States was relatively modest. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average monthly rates of imports growth: China (+5.6% per month) and Chile (+3.4% per month).

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform