Saudi Arabia: Paper And Paperboard Market 2024

Paper And Paperboard Market Size in Saudi Arabia

In 2022, the Saudi paper and paperboard market decreased by -3% to $X, falling for the fourth year in a row after three years of growth. In general, consumption, however, enjoyed a significant expansion. As a result, consumption reached the peak level of $X. From 2019 to 2022, the growth of the market failed to regain momentum.

Paper And Paperboard Production in Saudi Arabia

In value terms, paper and paperboard production totaled $X in 2022 estimated in export price. Overall, production saw a remarkable increase. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2016 when the production volume increased by 108% against the previous year. Paper and paperboard production peaked at $X in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2022, production failed to regain momentum.

Paper And Paperboard Exports

Exports from Saudi Arabia

In 2022, after two years of growth, there was decline in overseas shipments of paper and paperboard (creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated), when their volume decreased by -4.8% to X tons. Overall, exports, however, continue to indicate a slight increase. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 with an increase of 1,133%. The exports peaked at X tons in 2021, and then shrank slightly in the following year.

In value terms, paper and paperboard exports contracted notably to $X in 2022. In general, exports, however, recorded a resilient expansion. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 with an increase of 1,046%. Over the period under review, the exports reached the peak figure at $X in 2021, and then declined sharply in the following year.

Exports by Country

Jordan (X tons), Yemen (X tons) and Kuwait (X tons) were the main destinations of paper and paperboard exports from Saudi Arabia, with a combined 96% share of total exports. Iraq lagged somewhat behind, accounting for a further 3.7%.

From 2012 to 2022, the biggest increases were recorded for Iraq (with a CAGR of +24.3%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest markets for paper and paperboard exported from Saudi Arabia were Yemen ($X), Jordan ($X) and Kuwait ($X), with a combined 96% share of total exports.

In terms of the main countries of destination, Yemen, with a CAGR of +30.7%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the average paper and paperboard export price amounted to $X per ton, dropping by -16.1% against the previous year. Over the period under review, export price indicated a prominent expansion from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +5.1% 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 export price increased by +27.0% against 2020 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 an increase of 51% against the previous year. As a result, the export price attained the peak level of $X per ton, and then declined sharply in the following year.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Yemen ($X per ton), while the average price for exports to Jordan ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Yemen (+9.6%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Paper And Paperboard Imports

Imports into Saudi Arabia

In 2022, supplies from abroad of paper and paperboard (creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated) decreased by -27.2% to X tons, falling for the second year in a row after two years of growth. In general, imports, however, continue to indicate moderate growth. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 with an increase of 232% against the previous year. As a result, imports attained the peak of X tons. From 2021 to 2022, the growth of imports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, paper and paperboard imports rose significantly to $X in 2022. Overall, imports, however, enjoyed a resilient expansion. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2019 when imports increased by 95% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports reached the maximum at $X in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

In 2022, Indonesia (X tons) constituted the largest paper and paperboard supplier to Saudi Arabia, with a 29% share of total imports. Moreover, paper and paperboard imports from Indonesia exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, China (X tons), twofold. France (X tons) ranked third in terms of total imports with a 10% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of volume from Indonesia stood at +43.2%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: China (+4.7% per year) and France (+2.7% per year).

In value terms, the largest paper and paperboard suppliers to Saudi Arabia were Turkey ($X), China ($X) and Indonesia ($X), together comprising 58% of total imports.

Among the main suppliers, Turkey, with a CAGR of +34.6%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to 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 average paper and paperboard import price stood at $X per ton in 2022, increasing by 57% against the previous year. Over the period under review, import price indicated pronounced growth from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +2.7% 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 +73.5% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 when the average import price increased by 76%. As a result, import price reached the peak level of $X per ton. From 2020 to 2022, the average import prices remained at a lower figure.

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

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Hungary (+44.2%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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