Paper and Paperboard Price in Mexico Drops Slightly to $1,250 per Ton After Peaking in June

Mexico Paper and Paperboard Import Price per Ton in July 2022

In July 2022, the paper and paperboard price per ton amounted to $1,250 (CIF, Mexico), reducing by -3.3% against the previous month. Over the period from January 2022 to July 2022, it increased at an average monthly rate of +2.8%. The growth pace was the most rapid in June 2022 when the average import price increased by 12% m-o-m. As a result, import price reached the peak level of $1,292 per ton, and then contracted slightly in the following month.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In July 2022, the country with the highest price was Brazil ($1,727 per ton), while the price for Canada ($1,017 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to July 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Indonesia (+4.4%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Mexico Paper and Paperboard Import Prices by Type

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplied products. In July 2022, the product with the highest price was paper other than graphic, packaging or tissue ($4,818 per ton), while the price for packaging materials ($1,175 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to July 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by graphic papers (+3.8%), while the prices for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

Mexico Paper and Paperboard Imports

In July 2022, after two months of growth, there was decline in supplies from abroad of paper and paperboard, when their volume decreased by -3.3% to 286K tons. The total import volume increased at an average monthly rate of +2.1% from January 2022 to July 2022; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in March 2022 when imports increased by 17% m-o-m.

In value terms, paper and paperboard imports contracted to $357M (IndexBox estimates) in July 2022. The total import value increased at an average monthly rate of +5.0% over the period from January 2022 to July 2022; the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain months. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in June 2022 with an increase of 15% against the previous month. As a result, imports reached the peak of $382M, and then contracted in the following month.

Mexico Paper and Paperboard Imports by Type

In July 2022, packaging materials (211K tons) constituted the largest type of paper and paperboard supplied to Mexico, accounting for a 74% share of total imports. Moreover, packaging materials exceeded the figures recorded for the second-largest type, graphic papers (70K tons), threefold. Toilet or facial tissue stock, towel and similar paper (3.9K tons) ranked third in terms of total imports with a 1.4% share.

From January 2022 to July 2022, the average monthly growth rate of the volume of import of packaging materials was relatively modest. With regard to the other supplied products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: graphic papers (+7.1% per month) and toilet or facial tissue stock, towel and similar paper (+3.3% per month).

In value terms, packaging materials ($248M) constituted the largest type of paper and paperboard supplied to Mexico, comprising 69% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by graphic papers ($101M), with a 28% share of total imports. It was followed by toilet or facial tissue stock, towel and similar paper, with a 1.5% share.

Mexico Paper and Paperboard Imports by Country

In July 2022, the United States (189K tons) constituted the largest supplier of paper and paperboard to Mexico, accounting for a 66% share of total imports. Moreover, paper and paperboard imports from the United States exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, China (33K tons), sixfold. The third position in this ranking was held by Indonesia (10K tons), with a 3.7% share.

From January 2022 to July 2022, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of volume from the United States was relatively modest. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average monthly rates of imports growth: China (+18.7% per month) and Indonesia (+34.0% per month).

In value terms, the United States ($205M) constituted the largest supplier of paper and paperboard to Mexico, comprising 57% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by China ($56M), with a 16% share of total imports. It was followed by Indonesia, with a 4.4% share.

From January 2022 to July 2022, 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 (+20.1% per month) and Indonesia (+39.9% per month).

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform