SADC: Fiberboard Market 2025

Fiberboard Market Size in SADC

The SADC fiberboard market shrank to $X in 2022, with a decrease of -6.2% against the previous year. Over the period under review, consumption, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2022, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Fiberboard Production in SADC

In value terms, fiberboard production dropped to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. In general, production continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when the production volume increased by 14% against the previous year. As a result, production attained the peak level of $X. From 2018 to 2022, production growth remained at a lower figure.

Fiberboard Exports

Exports in SADC

Fiberboard exports amounted to X cubic meters in 2022, increasing by 7.3% compared with the previous year. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.1% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 with an increase of 18% against the previous year. The volume of export peaked in 2022 and is likely to see steady growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, fiberboard exports reached $X in 2022. In general, exports, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 40% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports hit record highs at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

South Africa was the key exporting country with an export of about X cubic meters, which reached 49% of total exports. It was distantly followed by Malawi (X cubic meters), Zimbabwe (X cubic meters) and Tanzania (X cubic meters), together committing a 50% share of total exports.

Exports from South Africa decreased at an average annual rate of -4.2% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Tanzania (+73.8%), Zimbabwe (+18.2%) and Malawi (+7.5%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Tanzania emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in SADC, with a CAGR of +73.8% from 2012-2022. While the share of Zimbabwe (+13 p.p.), Tanzania (+11 p.p.) and Malawi (+11 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total exports from 2012-2022, the share of South Africa (-34.5 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics.

In value terms, South Africa ($X) remains the largest fiberboard supplier in SADC, comprising 57% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Malawi ($X), with a 17% share of total exports. It was followed by Zimbabwe, with a 13% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of value in South Africa stood at -4.8%. The remaining exporting countries recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Malawi (+6.3% per year) and Zimbabwe (+13.1% per year).

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the export price in SADC amounted to $X per cubic meter, increasing by 4% against the previous year. Overall, the export price, however, saw a slight reduction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 an increase of 19% against the previous year. The level of export peaked at $X per cubic meter in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, 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 South Africa ($X per cubic meter), while Malawi ($X per cubic meter) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Tanzania (-0.3%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

Fiberboard Imports

Imports in SADC

In 2022, supplies from abroad of fiber board of wood or other ligneous materials decreased by -11.4% to X cubic meters for the first time since 2018, thus ending a three-year rising trend. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.0% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 with an increase of 16% against the previous year. The volume of import peaked at X cubic meters in 2021, and then declined in the following year.

In value terms, fiberboard imports shrank to $X in 2022. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +1.5% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 when imports increased by 27%. As a result, imports attained the peak of $X, and then dropped in the following year.

Imports by Country

In 2022, South Africa (X cubic meters) represented the main importer of fiber board of wood or other ligneous materials, comprising 55% of total imports. Zimbabwe (X cubic meters) held a 13% share (based on physical terms) of total imports, which put it in second place, followed by Tanzania (13%) and Angola (5.3%). Zambia (X cubic meters), Mozambique (X cubic meters) and Mauritius (X cubic meters) followed a long way behind the leaders.

South Africa experienced a relatively flat trend pattern with regard to volume of imports of fiber board of wood or other ligneous materials. At the same time, Mozambique (+12.3%), Zimbabwe (+7.8%), Zambia (+5.9%), Tanzania (+5.3%) and Angola (+1.9%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Mozambique emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in SADC, with a CAGR of +12.3% from 2012-2022. By contrast, Mauritius (-7.6%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Zimbabwe (+5.7 p.p.), Tanzania (+3.6 p.p.) and Mozambique (+1.7 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2022, the share of Mauritius (-3.5 p.p.) and South Africa (-8.4 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, South Africa ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported fiber board of wood or other ligneous materials in SADC, comprising 54% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Tanzania ($X), with an 11% share of total imports. It was followed by Zimbabwe, with a 10% share.

In South Africa, fiberboard imports remained relatively stable over the period from 2012-2022. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Tanzania (+6.1% per year) and Zimbabwe (+5.6% per year).

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the import price in SADC amounted to $X per cubic meter, rising by 4.4% against the previous year. Overall, the import price, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 when the import price increased by 12%. Over the period under review, import prices reached the peak figure at $X per cubic meter in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, import prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Angola ($X per cubic meter), while Zimbabwe ($X per cubic meter) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Mauritius (+3.3%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox Platform