Folding Boxboard Prices in the United States

U.S. Folding Boxboard Import Price per Ton in August 2022

In August 2022, the folding boxboard price per ton amounted to $1.5K (CIF, US), declining by -9.6% against the previous month. Overall, the import price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in May 2022 an increase of 19% m-o-m. The import price peaked at $1.7K per ton in July 2022, and then fell in the following month.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin: the country with the highest price was Germany ($4.2K per ton), while the price for Chile ($976.0 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Sweden (+4.0%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

U.S. Folding Boxboard Import Prices by Type

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplied products. In August 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, bleached and weighing > 150 g/m² ($2.8K per ton), while the price for kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, unbleached, weight 225g/m2 or more, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803 ($765.2 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained 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 (+4.8%), while the prices for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

U.S. Folding Boxboard Imports

In August 2022, imports of folding boxboard into the United States surged to 142K tons, with an increase of 27% compared with the month before. The total import volume increased at an average monthly rate of +6.3% over the period from January 2022 to August 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, imports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, folding boxboard imports reached $214M (IndexBox estimates) in August 2022. The total import value increased at an average monthly rate of +6.8% over the period from January 2022 to August 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, imports attained the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

U.S. Folding Boxboard Imports by Type

In August 2022, 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 (81K tons) constituted the largest type of folding boxboard supplied to the United States, with a 63% share of total imports. Moreover, 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 exceeded the figures recorded for the second-largest 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) (24K tons), threefold. The third position in this ranking was taken 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 (11K tons), with an 8.7% share.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of the volume of import of 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 amounted to +4.4%. With regard to the other supplied 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) (+72.1% per month) 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 (+2.1% per month).

In value terms, 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 ($101M) constituted the largest type of folding boxboard supplied to the United States, comprising 59% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held 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 ($32M), with an 18% share of total imports. It was 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), with a 16% share.

U.S. Folding Boxboard Imports by Country

Sweden (43K tons), Canada (36K tons) and Finland (34K tons) were the main suppliers of folding boxboard imports to the United States, with a combined 80% share of total imports. Mexico, Chile, Germany and China lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 13%.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the main suppliers, was attained by China (with a CAGR of +42.1%), while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest folding boxboard suppliers to the United States were Sweden ($56M), Canada ($52M) and Finland ($40M), together accounting for 69% of total imports. Germany, Mexico, China and Chile lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 19%.

China, with a CAGR of +27.2%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, among the main suppliers over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform