Middle East: Recovered Paper Market 2025

Recovered Paper Market Size in the Middle East

For the fourth year in a row, the Middle Eastern recovered paper market recorded growth in sales value, which increased by 6.7% to $X in 2022. In general, consumption, however, enjoyed a resilient increase. Over the period under review, the market reached the peak level in 2022 and is likely to continue growth in the near future.

Recovered Paper Production in the Middle East

In value terms, recovered paper production contracted modestly to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. Overall, production, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 with an increase of 14%. As a result, production reached the peak level of $X. From 2018 to 2022, production growth remained at a lower figure.

Recovered Paper Exports

Exports in the Middle East

Recovered paper exports reduced slightly to X tons in 2022, falling by -3.9% on the year before. Over the period under review, exports saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 with an increase of 25%. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2022, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, recovered paper exports reduced to $X in 2022. In general, exports, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 89%. Over the period under review, the exports reached the peak figure at $X in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

The United Arab Emirates was the main exporter of recovered paper in the Middle East, with the volume of exports finishing at X tons, which was approx. 35% of total exports in 2022. Iraq (X tons) held a 16% share (based on physical terms) of total exports, which put it in second place, followed by Turkey (12%), Saudi Arabia (10%), Israel (8.3%), Bahrain (6%), Oman (5.2%) and Kuwait (5.1%).

The United Arab Emirates experienced a relatively flat trend pattern with regard to volume of exports of recovered paper. At the same time, Iraq (+25.6%), Turkey (+12.5%), Israel (+3.4%) and Oman (+1.3%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Iraq emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the Middle East, with a CAGR of +25.6% from 2012-2022. By contrast, Bahrain (-4.3%), Kuwait (-8.2%) and Saudi Arabia (-8.3%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Iraq (+15 p.p.), Turkey (+8.8 p.p.) and Israel (+2.7 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total exports from 2012-2022, the share of Bahrain (-2.9 p.p.), Kuwait (-6.3 p.p.) and Saudi Arabia (-12.9 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the United Arab Emirates ($X) remains the largest recovered paper supplier in the Middle East, comprising 38% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Turkey ($X), with a 19% share of total exports. It was followed by Iraq, with a 14% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value in the United Arab Emirates was relatively modest. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Turkey (+20.5% per year) and Iraq (+27.1% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The export price in the Middle East stood at $X per ton in 2022, which is down by -7.6% against the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.3%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 an increase of 53% against the previous year. As a result, the export price attained the peak level of $X per ton, and then declined in the following year.

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 Turkey ($X per ton), while Oman ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Turkey (+7.1%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Recovered Paper Imports

Imports in the Middle East

After three years of growth, purchases abroad of recovered paper decreased by -19.9% to X tons in 2022. In general, imports, however, showed a buoyant increase. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 when imports increased by 71% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports reached the peak figure at X tons in 2021, and then shrank dramatically in the following year.

In value terms, recovered paper imports amounted to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, imports, however, posted a resilient increase. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 with an increase of 94% against the previous year. The level of import peaked in 2022 and is expected to retain growth in years to come.

Imports by Country

Turkey dominates imports structure, amounting to X tons, which was approx. 87% of total imports in 2022. It was distantly followed by the United Arab Emirates (X tons), mixing up a 7.9% share of total imports. The following importers - Saudi Arabia (X tons) and Israel (X tons) - each accounted for a 3.1% share of total imports.

Turkey was also the fastest-growing in terms of the recovered paper imports, with a CAGR of +38.3% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, the United Arab Emirates (+3.8%) displayed positive paces of growth. By contrast, Israel (-1.9%) and Saudi Arabia (-14.1%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Turkey (+70 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2022, the share of Israel (-7.8 p.p.), the United Arab Emirates (-19.4 p.p.) and Saudi Arabia (-34.6 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics.

In value terms, Turkey ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported recovered paper in the Middle East, comprising 86% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by the United Arab Emirates ($X), with a 7.6% share of total imports. It was followed by Saudi Arabia, with a 2.3% share.

In Turkey, recovered paper imports expanded at an average annual rate of +41.6% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining importing countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: the United Arab Emirates (+8.9% per year) and Saudi Arabia (-10.0% per year).

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the import price in the Middle East amounted to $X per ton, surging by 36% against the previous year. Over the period from 2012 to 2022, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.4%. As a result, import price attained the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

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 Saudi Arabia ($X per ton), while the United Arab Emirates ($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 United Arab Emirates (+4.9%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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