Modest Increase in Price of Folding Boxboard in Thailand: $1,674 per Ton

Thailand Folding Boxboard Import Price in June 2023

In June 2023, the folding boxboard price stood at $1,674 per ton (CIF, Thailand), rising by 9.8% against the previous month. In general, the import price, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in December 2022 when the average import price increased by 17% month-to-month. As a result, import price reached the peak level of $1,902 per ton. From January 2023 to June 2023, the average import prices remained at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In June 2023, the country with the highest price was Singapore ($3,601 per ton), while the price for Indonesia ($680 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From June 2022 to June 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the United States (+2.8%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Thailand Folding Boxboard Import Prices by Type

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplied products. In June 2023, the product with the highest price was 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 ($50,192 per ton), while the price for 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 ($729 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From June 2022 to June 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by 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 (+40.2%), while the prices for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

Thailand Folding Boxboard Imports

In June 2023, approximately 23K tons of folding boxboard were imported into Thailand; which is down by -19.7% on the previous month's figure. Overall, imports showed a slight setback. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in May 2023 with an increase of 37% against the previous month. As a result, imports reached the peak of 29K tons, and then fell dramatically in the following month.

In value terms, folding boxboard imports shrank to $39M (IndexBox estimates) in June 2023. Over the period under review, imports recorded a mild downturn. The growth pace was the most rapid in May 2023 with an increase of 34% against the previous month.

Thailand Folding Boxboard Imports by Type

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 (12K tons), 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) (7.2K tons) and 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 (1.6K tons) were the main products of folding boxboard imports to Thailand, with a combined 89% share of total imports. These products were followed by 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, unbleached, weight 225g/m2 or more, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803, 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 , 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, 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, 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 and 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, which together accounted for a further 11%.

From June 2022 to June 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the major product types, was attained by kraft paper and paperboard; coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances only, for non-graphic purposes, n.e.s. in item no. 4810.31 and 4810.32, in rolls or sheets (with a CAGR of +13.2%), while imports for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, 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) ($23M) constituted the largest type of folding boxboard supplied to Thailand, comprising 58% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by 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 ($9.8M), with a 25% share of total imports. It was followed by 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 , with an 8.5% share.

Thailand Folding Boxboard Imports by Country

Sweden (5.4K tons), China (5.3K tons) and South Korea (3.4K tons) were the main suppliers of folding boxboard imports to Thailand, together comprising 60% of total imports. Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, the United States, Vietnam and Taiwan (Chinese) lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 32%.

From June 2022 to June 2023, the biggest increases were in Taiwan (Chinese) (with a CAGR of +2.1%), while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest folding boxboard suppliers to Thailand were Singapore ($12M), China ($8.3M) and Sweden ($5.4M), with a combined 66% share of total imports. South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, the United States, Indonesia and Taiwan (Chinese) lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 20%.

In terms of the main suppliers, Taiwan (Chinese), with a CAGR of +3.5%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced mixed trend patterns.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform