Packaging Materials Prices in the United States

U.S. Packaging Materials Export Price per Ton in August 2022

In August 2022, the packaging materials price per ton stood at $997.3 (FOB, US), stabilizing at the previous month. Over the period from January 2022 to August 2022, it increased at an average monthly rate of +1.1%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in February 2022 an increase of 3.2% against the previous month. Over the period under review, the average export prices hit record highs in August 2022.

There were significant differences in the average prices for the major external markets. In August 2022, the country with the highest price was Japan ($1.3K per ton), while the average price for exports to Italy ($739.0 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Ecuador (+2.9%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

U.S. Packaging Materials Export Prices by Type

Prices varied noticeably by the product type; the product with the highest price was folding boxboard ($1.4K per ton), while the average price for exports of paperboard case materials ($803.8 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for the following types: folding boxboard (+1.3%), while the prices for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

U.S. Packaging Materials Exports

In August 2022, after two months of decline, there was significant growth in shipments abroad of packaging materials, when their volume increased by 6.4% to 756K tons. Overall, exports saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in March 2022 when exports increased by 20% against the previous month. As a result, the exports reached the peak of 824K tons. From April 2022 to August 2022, the growth of the exports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, packaging materials exports rose markedly to $754M (IndexBox estimates) in August 2022. The total export value increased at an average monthly rate of +1.4% from January 2022 to August 2022; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations in certain months. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in March 2022 when exports increased by 21% month-to-month. As a result, the exports attained the peak of $799M. From April 2022 to August 2022, the growth of the exports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

U.S. Packaging Materials Exports by Type

Paperboard case materials (477K tons) was the largest type of packaging materials exported from the United States, accounting for a 63% share of total exports. Moreover, paperboard case materials exceeded the volume of the second product type, folding boxboard (178K tons), threefold. Wrapping paper, packaging paper and paperboard (90K tons) ranked third in terms of total exports with a 12% share.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of the volume of export of paperboard case materials was relatively modest. With regard to the other exported products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: folding boxboard (+0.0% per month) and wrapping paper, packaging paper and paperboard (+1.2% per month).

In value terms, the most traded types of packaging materials in the United States were paperboard case materials ($384M), folding boxboard ($244M) and wrapping paper, packaging paper and paperboard ($115M), together comprising 99% of total exports. These products were followed by other papers packaging, which accounted for a further 1.4%.

Other papers packaging, with a CAGR of +6.8%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, among the main product categories over the period under review, while shipments for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

U.S. Packaging Materials Exports by Country

Mexico (189K tons), Canada (180K tons) and China (57K tons) were the main destinations of packaging materials exports from the United States, with a combined 56% share of total exports. Guatemala, Costa Rica, Japan, South Korea, Colombia, Honduras, Italy, Ecuador and Chile lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 27%.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the biggest increases were in Colombia (with a CAGR of +13.1%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Canada ($187M), Mexico ($182M) and China ($49M) were the largest markets for packaging materials exported from the United States worldwide, together accounting for 55% of total exports. These countries were followed by Japan, Guatemala, South Korea, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Italy and Chile, which together accounted for a further 26%.

In terms of the main countries of destination, Colombia, with a CAGR of +13.5%, 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