MENA: Paper And Paperboard Market 2025

Paper And Paperboard Market Size in MENA

In 2022, the MENA's paper and paperboard market increased by 25% to $X for the first time since 2018, thus ending a three-year declining trend. In general, consumption recorded buoyant growth. As a result, consumption attained the peak level of $X. From 2019 to 2022, the growth of the market remained at a lower figure.

Paper And Paperboard Production in MENA

In value terms, paper and paperboard production expanded sharply to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production showed a prominent increase. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 when the production volume increased by 89%. As a result, production attained the peak level of $X. From 2019 to 2022, production growth remained at a lower figure.

Paper And Paperboard Exports

Exports in MENA

In 2022, after two years of growth, there was significant decline in shipments abroad of paper and paperboard (creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated), when their volume decreased by -5.4% to X tons. In general, exports, however, saw a moderate expansion. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2020 with an increase of 367% against the previous year. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2021, and then reduced in the following year.

In value terms, paper and paperboard exports declined rapidly to $X in 2022. Overall, exports, however, posted a resilient increase. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 when exports increased by 280%. The level of export peaked at $X in 2021, and then contracted significantly in the following year.

Exports by Country

In 2022, Saudi Arabia (X tons) represented the key exporter of paper and paperboard (creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated), generating 72% of total exports. It was distantly followed by Kuwait (X tons), constituting a 23% share of total exports. Turkey (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Exports from Saudi Arabia increased at an average annual rate of +1.5% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Kuwait (+75.8%) and Turkey (+11.6%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Kuwait emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in MENA, with a CAGR of +75.8% from 2012-2022. From 2012 to 2022, the share of Kuwait increased by +23 percentage points. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Saudi Arabia ($X) remains the largest paper and paperboard supplier in MENA, comprising 76% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by Kuwait ($X), with a 14% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of value in Saudi Arabia stood at +6.6%. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Kuwait (+55.4% per year) and Turkey (+11.5% per year).

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the export price in MENA amounted to $X per ton, which is down by -12% against the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +3.2%. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 an increase of 29%. As a result, the export price attained the peak level of $X per ton, and then fell in the following year.

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

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Saudi Arabia (+5.1%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

Paper And Paperboard Imports

Imports in MENA

Paper and paperboard imports declined sharply to X tons in 2022, with a decrease of -16.6% against the previous year. In general, imports continue to indicate a slight shrinkage. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2020 with an increase of 74%. As a result, imports reached the peak of X tons. From 2021 to 2022, the growth of imports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, paper and paperboard imports surged to $X in 2022. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. As a result, imports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Imports by Country

In 2022, Saudi Arabia (X tons) was the major importer of paper and paperboard (creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated), generating 52% of total imports. Turkey (X tons) ranks second in terms of the total imports with a 16% share, followed by the United Arab Emirates (9.4%). Morocco (X tons), Jordan (X tons), Algeria (X tons), Tunisia (X tons), Kuwait (X tons), Israel (X tons) and Egypt (X tons) took a minor share of total imports.

Imports into Saudi Arabia increased at an average annual rate of +3.1% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Morocco (+13.8%), the United Arab Emirates (+7.9%), Turkey (+7.7%), Algeria (+5.2%), Tunisia (+5.0%), Israel (+1.8%) and Egypt (+1.1%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Morocco emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in MENA, with a CAGR of +13.8% from 2012-2022. By contrast, Jordan (-15.6%) and Kuwait (-20.5%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. Saudi Arabia (+20 p.p.), Turkey (+9.6 p.p.), the United Arab Emirates (+5.7 p.p.) and Morocco (+2.8 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total imports, while Jordan and Kuwait saw its share reduced by -10.1% and -15.6% from 2012 to 2022, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the largest paper and paperboard importing markets in MENA were Saudi Arabia ($X), Turkey ($X) and the United Arab Emirates ($X), with a combined 72% share of total imports. Tunisia, Morocco, Israel, Egypt, Algeria, Jordan and Kuwait lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 19%.

Tunisia, with a CAGR of +15.4%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to 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 2022, the import price in MENA amounted to $X per ton, surging by 40% against the previous year. Import price indicated a temperate expansion from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +4.6% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, paper and paperboard import price increased by +76.5% against 2020 indices. As a result, import price attained the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Tunisia ($X per ton), while Jordan ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Tunisia (+9.9%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform