Recovered Paper Prices in the United States

U.S. Recovered Paper Export Price per Ton in August 2022

In August 2022, the recovered paper price per ton stood at $234.0 (FOB, US), shrinking by -1.7% against the previous month. Over the period from January 2022 to August 2022, it increased at an average monthly rate of +1.6%. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in June 2022 an increase of 14% m-o-m. As a result, the export price attained the peak level of $244.8 per ton. From July 2022 to August 2022, the the average export prices failed to regain momentum.

Average prices varied somewhat for the major overseas markets. In August 2022, the countries with the highest prices were Mexico ($270.0 per ton) and Malaysia ($248.0 per ton), while the average price for exports to South Korea ($200.0 per ton) and Indonesia ($203.0 per ton) were amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Malaysia (+7.0%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

U.S. Recovered Paper Export Prices by Type

Prices varied noticeably by the product type; the product with the highest price was paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of paper or paperboard made mainly of bleached chemical pulp, not coloured in the mass ($298.9 per ton), while the average price for exports of paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of paper or paperboard made mainly of mechanical pulp (eg newspapers, journals and similar printed matter) ($196.0 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 the following types: paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of unbleached kraft paper or paperboard or of corrugated paper or paperboard (+2.3%), while the prices for the other products experienced a decline.

U.S. Recovered Paper Exports

For the third month in a row, the United States recorded decline in shipments abroad of recovered paper, which decreased by -0.4% to 1.1M tons in August 2022. Overall, exports saw a noticeable descent. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in March 2022 with an increase of 14% against the previous month.

In value terms, recovered paper exports contracted modestly to $257M (IndexBox estimates) in August 2022. In general, exports showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in March 2022 with an increase of 12% against the previous month.

U.S. Recovered Paper Exports by Type

Paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of unbleached kraft paper or paperboard or of corrugated paper or paperboard (692K tons) was the largest type of recovered paper exported from the United States, with a 63% share of total exports. Moreover, paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of unbleached kraft paper or paperboard or of corrugated paper or paperboard exceeded the volume of the second product type, paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of paper or paperboard made mainly of bleached chemical pulp, not coloured in the mass (171K tons), fourfold. Paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of paper or paperboard n.e.s. in heading no. 4707 and of unsorted waste and scrap (165K tons) ranked third in terms of total exports with a 15% share.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the average monthly growth rate of the volume of export of paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of unbleached kraft paper or paperboard or of corrugated paper or paperboard amounted to -3.0%. With regard to the other exported products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of paper or paperboard made mainly of bleached chemical pulp, not coloured in the mass (+4.7% per month) and paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of paper or paperboard n.e.s. in heading no. 4707 and of unsorted waste and scrap (-5.3% per month).

In value terms, paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of unbleached kraft paper or paperboard or of corrugated paper or paperboard ($158M) remains the largest type of recovered paper exported from the United States, comprising 61% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of paper or paperboard made mainly of bleached chemical pulp, not coloured in the mass ($51M), with a 20% share of total exports. It was followed by paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of paper or paperboard n.e.s. in heading no. 4707 and of unsorted waste and scrap, with a 13% share.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the average monthly growth rate of the export volume of paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of unbleached kraft paper or paperboard or of corrugated paper or paperboard was relatively modest. With regard to the other exported products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of paper or paperboard made mainly of bleached chemical pulp, not coloured in the mass (+4.4% per month) and paper or paperboard; waste and scrap, of paper or paperboard n.e.s. in heading no. 4707 and of unsorted waste and scrap (-5.6% per month).

U.S. Recovered Paper Exports by Country

Mexico (188K tons), India (182K tons) and Thailand (136K tons) were the main destinations of recovered paper exports from the United States, together comprising 46% of total exports.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the biggest increases were in Thailand (with a CAGR of +3.4%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Mexico ($51M), India ($38M) and Thailand ($32M) were the largest markets for recovered paper exported from the United States worldwide, together accounting for 47% of total exports.

In terms of the main countries of destination, Thailand, with a CAGR of +6.3%, recorded 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