Europe: Corrugated Paper Box Market 2024

Corrugated Paper Box Market Size in Europe

The Europe corrugated paper box market rose sharply to $X in 2022, growing by 14% against the previous year. The market value increased at an average annual rate of +3.5% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. As a result, consumption attained the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Corrugated Paper Box Production in Europe

In value terms, corrugated paper box production expanded rapidly to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. The total output value increased at an average annual rate of +3.4% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. As a result, production attained the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Corrugated Paper Box Exports

Exports in Europe

After two years of growth, overseas shipments of cartons, boxes and cases of corrugated paper or paperboard decreased by -8.2% to X tons in 2022. Total exports indicated measured growth from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.8% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, exports increased by +60.2% against 2012 indices. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 16%. As a result, the exports attained the peak of X tons, and then dropped in the following year.

In value terms, corrugated paper box exports reduced to $X in 2022. Total exports indicated a resilient expansion from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +5.5% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, exports increased by +22.8% against 2018 indices. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 when exports increased by 30% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of $X, and then fell in the following year.

Exports by Country

Germany (X tons), the Netherlands (X tons), Poland (X tons), Italy (X tons), Austria (X tons), Spain (X tons), Belgium (X tons), the Czech Republic (X tons) and France (X tons) represented roughly 81% of total exports in 2022. The following exporters - the UK (X tons) and Hungary (X tons) - each resulted at a 4.6% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the leading exporting countries, was attained by the Netherlands (with a CAGR of +15.6%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Germany ($X) remains the largest corrugated paper box supplier in Europe, comprising 23% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Poland ($X), with an 11% share of total exports. It was followed by Italy, with a 9.9% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value in Germany stood at +4.4%. The remaining exporting countries recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Poland (+12.3% per year) and Italy (+5.7% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The export price in Europe stood at $X per ton in 2022, picking up by 7.5% against the previous year. In general, the export price recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 an increase of 12%. Over the period under review, the export prices reached the maximum in 2022 and is likely to continue growth in the near future.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was the UK ($X per ton), while the Netherlands ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland (+4.6%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Corrugated Paper Box Imports

Imports in Europe

In 2022, corrugated paper box imports in Europe rose modestly to X tons, picking up by 3.6% against 2021 figures. Total imports indicated prominent growth from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +5.8% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports increased by +76.5% against 2012 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2014 when imports increased by 18%. Over the period under review, imports reached the peak figure in 2022 and are likely to continue growth in the near future.

In value terms, corrugated paper box imports expanded rapidly to $X in 2022. Total imports indicated a prominent expansion from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +5.5% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports increased by +75.2% against 2015 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 when imports increased by 26%. The level of import peaked in 2022 and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Imports by Country

The Netherlands was the key importer of cartons, boxes and cases of corrugated paper or paperboard in Europe, with the volume of imports resulting at X tons, which was approx. 27% of total imports in 2022. Germany (X tons) held an 11% share (based on physical terms) of total imports, which put it in second place, followed by France (9.6%) and Belgium (6.3%). The following importers - the UK (X tons), Switzerland (X tons), Poland (X tons), the Czech Republic (X tons), Hungary (X tons), Slovakia (X tons), Sweden (X tons), Austria (X tons) and Denmark (X tons) - together made up 28% of total imports.

The Netherlands was also the fastest-growing in terms of the cartons, boxes and cases of corrugated paper or paperboard imports, with a CAGR of +10.8% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Poland (+10.3%), Sweden (+7.6%), Slovakia (+5.6%), the UK (+5.0%), Hungary (+5.0%), Germany (+4.3%), Austria (+3.8%), Belgium (+3.6%), the Czech Republic (+3.6%), France (+2.6%), Switzerland (+2.5%) and Denmark (+2.0%) displayed positive paces of growth. While the share of the Netherlands (+9.9 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2022, the share of Belgium (-1.5 p.p.), Germany (-1.7 p.p.) and France (-3.5 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the Netherlands ($X), Germany ($X) and France ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2022, with a combined 40% share of total imports.

In terms of the main importing countries, the Netherlands, with a CAGR of +8.7%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The import price in Europe stood at $X per ton in 2022, growing by 3.7% against the previous year. Overall, the import price, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 when the import price increased by 24% against the previous year. The level of import peaked at $X per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, import prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Switzerland ($X per ton), while the Netherlands ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the Czech Republic (+2.7%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform