Folding Boxboard Prices in China

China Folding Boxboard Export Price in September 2022

In September 2022, the folding boxboard price stood at $1,454 per ton (FOB, China), picking up by 12% against the previous month. Over the period from January 2022 to September 2022, it increased at an average monthly rate of +2.6%. As a result, the export price reached the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

There were significant differences in the average prices for the major external markets. In September 2022, the country with the highest price was India ($1,760 per ton), while the average price for exports to Italy ($915 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to September 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Saudi Arabia (+6.9%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

China Folding Boxboard Export Prices by Type

There were significant differences in the average prices for the major types of exported product. In September 2022, the product with the highest price was 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) ($2,795 per ton), while the average price for exports of 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 ($1,303 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to September 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for the following types: 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 (+9.0%), while the prices for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

China Folding Boxboard Exports

In September 2022, approximately 228K tons of folding boxboard were exported from China; with a decrease of -19.3% on the month before. In general, exports showed a mild contraction. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in March 2022 with an increase of 25% month-to-month. Over the period under review, the exports hit record highs at 312K tons in May 2022; however, from June 2022 to September 2022, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, folding boxboard exports declined to $331M (IndexBox estimates) in September 2022. The total export value increased at an average monthly rate of +1.5% over the period from January 2022 to September 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain months. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in March 2022 when exports increased by 34% m-o-m. Over the period under review, the exports attained the peak figure at 371K tons in July 2022; however, from August 2022 to September 2022, the exports failed to regain momentum.

China Folding Boxboard Exports by Type

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) (30K tons) was the largest type of folding boxboard exported from China, accounting for a 89% share of total exports. Moreover, 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) exceeded the volume of the second product type, 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) (3.6K tons), ninefold. The third position in this ranking was held by 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 (29 tons), with a 0.1% share.

From January 2022 to September 2022, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of the volume of export of 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) amounted to +3.2%. With regard to the other exported products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: 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) (+4.4% per month) 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 (+62.7% per month).

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) ($85M) emerged as the largest type of folding boxboard exported from China, comprising 94% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held 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) ($5.5M), with a 6.1% share of total exports. It was followed by 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, with less than 0.1% share.

From January 2022 to September 2022, the average monthly growth rate of the export volume of 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) totaled +8.0%. With regard to the other exported products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: 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) (+5.0% per month) 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 (+38.2% per month).

China Folding Boxboard Exports by Country

Russia (34K tons), Vietnam (26K tons) and Thailand (12K tons) were the main destinations of folding boxboard exports from China, together accounting for 32% of total exports.

From January 2022 to September 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the main countries of destination, was attained by Russia (with a CAGR of +25.5%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Russia ($49M), Vietnam ($41M) and Thailand ($17M) appeared to be the largest markets for folding boxboard exported from China worldwide, together comprising 32% of total exports.

In terms of the main countries of destination, Russia, with a CAGR of +33.5%, saw 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.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform