Middle East: Paper And Paperboard Market 2025

Paper And Paperboard Market Size in the Middle East

In 2022, the Middle Eastern paper and paperboard market was finally on the rise to reach $X after two years of decline. Over the period under review, consumption posted a remarkable increase. Over the period under review, the market reached the maximum level at $X in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2022, consumption failed to regain momentum.

Paper And Paperboard Production in the Middle East

In value terms, paper and paperboard production expanded rapidly to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. In general, production saw buoyant growth. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2018 when the production volume increased by 97% against the previous year. As a result, production attained the peak level of $X. From 2019 to 2022, production growth failed to regain momentum.

Paper And Paperboard Exports

Exports in the Middle East

After two years of growth, shipments abroad of paper and paperboard (creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated) decreased by -5.3% to X tons in 2022. Overall, exports, however, continue to indicate a temperate increase. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 when exports increased by 417% against the previous year. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2021, and then shrank in the following year.

In value terms, paper and paperboard exports declined markedly to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, exports, however, saw a resilient expansion. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2020 when exports increased by 348% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports reached the peak figure at $X in 2021, and then declined markedly in the following year.

Exports by Country

Saudi Arabia represented the key exporter of paper and paperboard (creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated) in the Middle East, with the volume of exports accounting for X tons, which was approx. 73% of total exports in 2022. It was distantly followed by Kuwait (X tons), mixing up a 24% 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 the Middle East, with a CAGR of +75.8% from 2012-2022. While the share of Kuwait (+24 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total exports from 2012-2022, the share of Saudi Arabia (-22.3 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Saudi Arabia ($X) remains the largest paper and paperboard supplier in the Middle East, comprising 80% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by Kuwait ($X), with a 14% share of total exports.

In Saudi Arabia, paper and paperboard exports increased at an average annual rate of +6.6% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining exporting countries recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Kuwait (+55.4% per year) and Turkey (+11.5% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The export price in the Middle East stood at $X per ton in 2022, waning by -12.6% against the previous year. Over the period from 2012 to 2022, it increased at an average annual rate of +3.6%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 when the export price increased by 30% against the previous year. As a result, the export price attained the peak level of $X per ton, and then contracted 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 the Middle East

Paper and paperboard imports plummeted to X tons in 2022, with a decrease of -17.7% against 2021 figures. Overall, imports saw a mild reduction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 with an increase of 89%. 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 skyrocketed to $X in 2022. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when imports increased by 40%. The level of import peaked in 2022 and is expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Imports by Country

In 2022, Saudi Arabia (X tons) was the main importer of paper and paperboard (creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated), generating 58% of total imports. It was distantly followed by Turkey (X tons) and the United Arab Emirates (X tons), together mixing up a 29% share of total imports. Jordan (X tons), Kuwait (X tons) and Israel (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2022, average annual rates of growth with regard to paper and paperboard imports into Saudi Arabia stood at +3.1%. At the same time, the United Arab Emirates (+7.9%), Turkey (+7.7%) and Israel (+1.8%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, the United Arab Emirates emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the Middle East, with a CAGR of +7.9% from 2012-2022. By contrast, Jordan (-15.6%) and Kuwait (-20.5%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Saudi Arabia (+21 p.p.), Turkey (+11 p.p.) and the United Arab Emirates (+6.3 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2022, the share of Jordan (-11.8 p.p.) and Kuwait (-18.2 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Saudi Arabia ($X), Turkey ($X) and the United Arab Emirates ($X) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2022, with a combined 84% share of total imports.

In terms of the main importing countries, the United Arab Emirates, with a CAGR of +12.4%, 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

In 2022, the import price in the Middle East amounted to $X per ton, picking up by 46% against the previous year. Import price indicated a temperate expansion from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +4.4% 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 +82.2% against 2020 indices. As a result, import price reached 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 Israel ($X per ton), while Jordan ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Kuwait (+5.6%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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