Eastern Europe: Paper Label Market 2025

Paper Label Market Size in Eastern Europe

The East European paper label market shrank to $X in 2021, declining by -7.8% against the previous year. In general, consumption continues to indicate a perceptible decline. As a result, consumption attained the peak level of $X. From 2015 to 2021, the growth of the market failed to regain momentum.

Paper Label Production in Eastern Europe

In value terms, paper label production contracted to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. In general, production saw a noticeable slump. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when the production volume increased by 13%. Over the period under review, production reached the peak level at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Paper Label Exports

Exports in Eastern Europe

Paper label exports reached X tons in 2021, remaining relatively unchanged against the year before. Total exports indicated a resilient increase from 2012 to 2021: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +8.2% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, exports decreased by -4.2% against 2018 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 with an increase of 19% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of X tons. From 2019 to 2021, the growth of the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, paper label exports skyrocketed to $X in 2021. Total exports indicated a buoyant expansion from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +8.1% over the last nine years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, exports increased by +69.9% against 2015 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when exports increased by 21% against the previous year. The level of export peaked in 2021 and is expected to retain growth in years to come.

Exports by Country

Poland was the main exporting country with an export of around X tons, which accounted for 30% of total exports. The Czech Republic (X tons) held the second position in the ranking, followed by Romania (X tons), Latvia (X tons), Belarus (X tons), Lithuania (X tons), Hungary (X tons), Ukraine (X tons), Russia (X tons) and Slovakia (X tons). All these countries together held approx. 66% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, average annual rates of growth with regard to paper label exports from Poland stood at +8.3%. At the same time, Russia (+18.4%), Romania (+18.2%), Belarus (+8.6%), Hungary (+8.4%), the Czech Republic (+6.7%), Slovakia (+6.3%), Lithuania (+6.3%), Latvia (+5.4%) and Ukraine (+1.4%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Russia emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in Eastern Europe, with a CAGR of +18.4% from 2012-2021. While the share of Romania (+5.7 p.p.) and Russia (+2.9 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total exports from 2012-2021, the share of Latvia (-1.8 p.p.), the Czech Republic (-1.8 p.p.) and Ukraine (-4.4 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Poland ($X) remains the largest paper label supplier in Eastern Europe, comprising 33% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by the Czech Republic ($X), with a 13% share of total exports. It was followed by Romania, with an 11% share.

In Poland, paper label exports expanded at an average annual rate of +12.2% over the period from 2012-2021. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: the Czech Republic (+4.2% per year) and Romania (+13.7% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The export price in Eastern Europe stood at $X per ton in 2021, increasing by 17% against the previous year. In general, the export price, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of export peaked at $X per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Poland ($X per ton), while Latvia ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland (+3.6%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

Paper Label Imports

Imports in Eastern Europe

In 2021, overseas purchases of labels of paper or paperboard increased by 9.5% to X tons, rising for the fourth year in a row after three years of decline. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.2% over the period from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 with an increase of 17% against the previous year. The volume of import peaked at X tons in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, paper label imports expanded notably to $X in 2021. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +2.0% over the period from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations in certain years. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2013 when imports increased by 11%. Over the period under review, imports hit record highs at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, imports failed to regain momentum.

Imports by Country

Poland represented the main importing country with an import of about X tons, which reached 33% of total imports. Russia (X tons) held a 14% share (based on physical terms) of total imports, which put it in second place, followed by the Czech Republic (14%), Hungary (12%), Romania (9.6%) and Slovakia (5.8%). Bulgaria (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Poland was also the fastest-growing in terms of the labels of paper or paperboard imports, with a CAGR of +9.8% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Hungary (+5.1%), Bulgaria (+4.6%), Russia (+1.5%) and Romania (+1.2%) displayed positive paces of growth. By contrast, Slovakia (-3.3%) and the Czech Republic (-5.2%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2021, the share of Poland and Hungary increased by +16 and +2.6 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the largest paper label importing markets in Eastern Europe were Poland ($X), the Czech Republic ($X) and Romania ($X), together accounting for 56% of total imports. These countries were followed by Russia, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria, which together accounted for a further 34%.

Slovakia, with a CAGR of +9.8%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of imports, in terms of the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2021, the import price in Eastern Europe amounted to $X per ton, shrinking by -2% against the previous year. Overall, the import price saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 an increase of 8.9% against the previous year. As a result, import price attained the peak level of $X per ton. From 2018 to 2021, the import prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2021, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Romania ($X per ton), while Russia ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Slovakia (+13.5%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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