Australia's Import of Folding Boxboard Declines to $576 Million in 2023

Australia Folding Boxboard Imports

After three years of growth, overseas purchases of folding boxboard decreased by -20.8% to 370K tons in 2023. In general, total imports indicated a perceptible expansion from 2013 to 2023: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.5% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 with an increase of 18% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports attained the peak figure at 468K tons in 2022, and then shrank rapidly in the following year.

In value terms, folding boxboard imports declined sharply to $576M (IndexBox estimates) in 2023. Over the period under review, imports, however, saw a prominent expansion. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 24% against the previous year. Imports peaked at $728M in 2022, and then dropped significantly in the following year.

Imports by Country

China (39K tons), New Zealand (34K tons) and the United States (22K tons) were the main suppliers of folding boxboard imports to Australia, together comprising 26% of total imports. Chile, Malaysia, Finland and Singapore lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 14%.

From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the main suppliers, was attained by Singapore (with a CAGR of +58.1%), while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, China ($58M), New Zealand ($39M) and the United States ($35M) were the largest folding boxboard suppliers to Australia, together accounting for 23% of total imports. Malaysia, Singapore, Chile and Finland lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 18%.

Singapore, with a CAGR of +65.1%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of imports, in terms of the main suppliers over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports by Type

In 2023, paper and paperboard; multi-ply, coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances only, for non-graphic purposes, n.e.c. in heading no. 4810, in rolls or sheets (179K tons) constituted the largest type of folding boxboard supplied to Australia, accounting for a 48% share of total imports. Moreover, paper and paperboard; multi-ply, coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances only, for non-graphic purposes, n.e.c. in heading no. 4810, in rolls or sheets exceeded the figures recorded for the second-largest type, paper and paperboard, surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, coated, impregnated or covered with artificial resins or plastics, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size (excluding bleached and weighing > 150 g/m, and adhesives) (67K tons), threefold. Paper and paperboard, surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, coated, impregnated or covered with artificial resins or plastics, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size, bleached and weighing > 150 g/m (57K tons) ranked third in terms of total imports with a 15% share.

From 2013 to 2023, the average annual rate of growth in terms of the volume of paper and paperboard; multi-ply, coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances only, for non-graphic purposes, n.e.c. in heading no. 4810, in rolls or sheets imports amounted to +4.9%. With regard to the other supplied products, the following average annual rates of growth were recorded: paper and paperboard, surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, coated, impregnated or covered with artificial resins or plastics, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size (excluding bleached and weighing > 150 g/m, and adhesives) (+12.0% per year) and paper and paperboard, surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, coated, impregnated or covered with artificial resins or plastics, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size, bleached and weighing > 150 g/m (+3.7% per year).

In value terms, paper and paperboard, surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, coated, impregnated or covered with artificial resins or plastics, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size (excluding bleached and weighing > 150 g/m, and adhesives) ($196M), paper and paperboard; multi-ply, coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances only, for non-graphic purposes, n.e.c. in heading no. 4810, in rolls or sheets ($187M) and paper and paperboard, surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, coated, impregnated or covered with artificial resins or plastics, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size, bleached and weighing > 150 g/m ($123M) were the most imported types of folding boxboard in Australia, together comprising 88% of total imports. Kraft paper and paperboard, coated on one or both sides with kaolin or other inorganic substances, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size (excluding that for writing, printing or other graphic purposes; paper and paperboard bleached uniformly in the mass and containing > 95% chemically processed wood fibres by weight in relation to the total fibre content), kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight between 150 and 225g/m2, bleached uniformly throughout, more than 95% of total fibre content consists of chemically processed wood fibres, in rolls or sheets, kraft paper and paperboard, bleached uniformly throughout the mass and containing > 95% chemically processed wood fibres by weight in relation to the total fibre content, coated on one or both sides with kaolin or other inorganic substances, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size, weighing > 150 g/m , paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight more than 150g/m2 but less than 225 g/m2, in rolls or sheets, n.e.c. in heading no. 4805, kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, unbleached, weight 225g/m2 or more, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803, kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight 225g/m2 or more, in rolls or sheets, n.e.s. in item no. 4804.5, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803, kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight 225g/m2 or more, bleached uniformly throughout, more than 95% of total fibre content consists of chemically processed wood fibres, in rolls or sheets and kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight more than 150g/m2 but less than 225g/m2, in rolls or sheets, n.e.s. in item no. 4804.4, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803 lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 12%.

Import Prices by Country

In 2023, the folding boxboard price stood at $1,555 per ton (CIF, Australia), remaining relatively unchanged against the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.9%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2022 when the average import price increased by 7.6% against the previous year. As a result, import price attained the peak level of $1,557 per ton, leveling off in the following year.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In 2023, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Singapore ($3,370 per ton), while the price for Austria ($580 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Singapore (+4.5%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform