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U.S. - Packaging Materials - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights
Report Update: May 1, 2025

U.S. - Packaging Materials - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights

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Oct 26, 2023

August 2023 Sees a $537M Surge in Export of Packaging Materials From the United States

U.S. Packaging Materials Exports

In August 2023, shipments abroad of packaging materials increased by 3.5% to 631K tons for the first time since May 2023, thus ending a two-month declining trend. Overall, exports, however, showed a slight reduction. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in March 2023 with an increase of 25% against the previous month.

In value terms, packaging materials exports totaled $537M (IndexBox estimates) in August 2023. Over the period under review, exports, however, saw a noticeable descent. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in March 2023 with an increase of 18% month-to-month.U.S. Packaging Materials Exports By Country (Million USD)

COUNTRYExport Value of Packaging Materials in U.S. (million USD)
Aug 2022Sep 2022Oct 2022Nov 2022Dec 2022Jan 2023Feb 2023Mar 2023Apr 2023May 2023Jun 2023Jul 2023Aug 2023
Canada190185170178164178170184166177176170161
Mexico182175162186156175158181151176154143145
China49.143.040.036.537.734.735.244.938.335.435.727.531.4
Japan33.827.522.726.026.022.522.618.522.220.923.919.819.1
Guatemala31.320.013.39.910.915.612.512.613.915.518.919.218.5
Costa Rica28.028.629.117.319.418.712.123.922.815.718.119.617.3
Italy14.44.913.312.110.910.57.39.99.29.811.65.410.4
Others240198207150173157133174132137125118134
Total768682658617597612551648555588562523537

Exports by Country

Mexico (160K tons), Canada (155K tons) and China (53K tons) were the main destinations of packaging materials exports from the United States, together comprising 58% of total exports. Guatemala, Costa Rica, Italy and Japan lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 14%.

From August 2022 to August 2023, the biggest increases were in Italy (with a CAGR of -0.4%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced a decline.

In value terms, the largest markets for packaging materials exported from the United States were Canada ($161M), Mexico ($145M) and China ($31M), with a combined 63% share of total exports.

Among the main countries of destination, Canada, with a CAGR of -1.4%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced a decline.

Exports by Type

Paperboard case materials (428K tons) was the largest type of packaging materials exported from the United States, accounting for a 68% share of total exports. Moreover, paperboard case materials exceeded the volume of the second product type, folding boxboard (121K tons), fourfold. Wrapping paper, packaging paper and paperboard (75K tons) ranked third in terms of total exports with a 12% share.

From August 2022 to August 2023, the average monthly growth rate of the volume of export of paperboard case materials stood at -1.0%. With regard to the other exported products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: folding boxboard (-3.3% per month) and wrapping paper, packaging paper and paperboard (-1.5% per month).

In value terms, the most traded types of packaging materials in the United States were paperboard case materials ($275M), folding boxboard ($165M) and wrapping paper, packaging paper and paperboard ($92M), with a combined 99% share of total exports. These products were followed by other papers packaging, which accounted for a further 0.9%.

Wrapping papers, with a CAGR of -1.9%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, in terms of the main product categories over the period under review, while shipments for the other products experienced a decline.

Export Prices by Country

In August 2023, the packaging materials price stood at $851 per ton (FOB, US), almost unchanged from the previous month. Over the period under review, the export price recorded a mild slump. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in September 2022 an increase of 3% m-o-m. The export price peaked at $1,034 per ton in October 2022; however, from November 2022 to August 2023, the export prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices for the major foreign markets. In August 2023, the country with the highest price was Japan ($1,304 per ton), while the average price for exports to Italy ($562 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From August 2022 to August 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Canada (0.0%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced a decline.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the packaging materials market in the U.S.. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.

Product coverage:

  • FCL 1617 - Case materials
  • FCL 1618 - Cartonboard
  • FCL 1621 - Wrapping papers
  • FCL 1622 - Other papers mainly for packaging

Country coverage:

  • United States

Data coverage:

  • Market volume and value
  • Per Capita consumption
  • Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
  • Trade (exports and imports) in the U.S.
  • Export and import prices
  • Market trends, drivers and restraints
  • Key market players and their profiles

Reasons to buy this report:

  • Take advantage of the latest data
  • Find deeper insights into current market developments
  • Discover vital success factors affecting the market

This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

  1. How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
  2. How to load your idle production capacity
  3. How to boost your sales on overseas markets
  4. How to increase your profit margins
  5. How to make your supply chain more sustainable
  6. How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
  7. How to outsource production to other countries
  8. How to prepare your business for global expansion

While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS

  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO

  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and Its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE
    2. MARKET STRUCTURE
    3. TRADE BALANCE
    4. PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION
    5. MARKET FORECAST TO 2030

  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCT

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCT
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCT
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCT FOR EXPORT

  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES

  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Exports

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS

  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE

  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS FROM 2012–2024
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY

  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS FROM 2012–2024
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY

  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO

  11. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2024
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    3. Market Value, 2012–2024
    4. Per Capita Consumption In 2012-2024
    5. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    6. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    7. Import Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
    8. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    9. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    10. Export Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024

  12. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    2. Market Value, 2012–2024
    3. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012-2024
    4. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012-2024
    5. Trade Balance, In Physical Terms, 2012-2024
    6. Trade Balance, In Value Terms, 2012-2024
    7. Per Capita Consumption, 2012-2024
    8. Market Volume Forecast to 2030
    9. Market Value Forecast to 2030
    10. Products: Market Size And Growth, By Type
    11. Products: Average Per Capita Consumption, By Type
    12. Products: Exports And Growth, By Type
    13. Products: Export Prices And Growth, By Type
    14. Production Volume And Growth
    15. Exports And Growth
    16. Export Prices And Growth
    17. Market Size And Growth
    18. Per Capita Consumption
    19. Imports And Growth
    20. Import Prices
    21. Production, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    22. Production, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    24. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    25. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    26. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    27. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    28. Import Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    30. Exports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    31. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    32. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    33. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    34. Export Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024

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