France Sees Significant Drop in Wrapping Papers Export to $748 Million in 2023

France Wrapping Papers Exports

After three years of growth, overseas shipments of wrapping paper, packaging paper and paperboard decreased by -23.2% to 359K tons in 2023. In general, exports recorded a mild contraction. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 when exports increased by 16% against the previous year. The exports peaked at 468K tons in 2022, and then dropped markedly in the following year.

In value terms, wrapping papers exports reduced notably to $748M (IndexBox estimates) in 2023. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +1.5% from 2013 to 2023; the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2022 when exports increased by 26% against the previous year. As a result, the exports reached the peak of $903M, and then dropped significantly in the following year.

Exports by Country

Spain (52K tons), Germany (49K tons) and Belgium (49K tons) were the main destinations of wrapping papers exports from France, together comprising 42% of total exports. Italy, the United States, the Netherlands and the UK lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 30%.

From 2013 to 2023, the biggest increases were recorded for the United States (with a CAGR of +2.8%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced mixed trend patterns.

In value terms, the largest markets for wrapping papers exported from France were the United States ($113M), Germany ($108M) and Spain ($94M), with a combined 42% share of total exports.

Among the main countries of destination, the United States, with a CAGR of +6.4%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports by Type

Paper; glassine and other glazed transparent or translucent papers, in rolls or sheets (107K tons), paper and paperboard, corrugated (with or without glued flat surface sheets), creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated, in rolls or sheets other than those of heading no. 4803 or 4818 (96K tons) and paper; greaseproof papers, in rolls or sheets (37K tons) were the main products of wrapping papers exports from France, with a combined 67% share of total exports. Kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, unbleached, weight 150g/m2 or less, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803, paper; vegetable parchment, 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 , kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, bleached, weight 150g/m2 or less, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803, unbleached sack kraft paper, uncoated, in rolls of a width > 36 cm , sack kraft paper, uncoated, in rolls of a width > 36 cm, paper and paperboard, coated on one or both sides with kaolin "china clay" or other inorganic substances, with or without a binder, and with no other coating, whether or not surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size and sulphite wrapping paper lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 33%.

From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the major product types, was attained by sack kraft paper, uncoated, in rolls of a width > 36 cm (with a CAGR of +31.5%), while the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, paper; glassine and other glazed transparent or translucent papers, in rolls or sheets ($217M), paper and paperboard, corrugated (with or without glued flat surface sheets), creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated, in rolls or sheets other than those of heading no. 4803 or 4818 ($166M) and paper; vegetable parchment, in rolls or sheets ($119M) constituted the most exported types of wrapping paper, packaging paper and paperboard from France worldwide, with a combined 67% share of total exports. Paper; greaseproof papers, in rolls or sheets, kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, unbleached, weight 150g/m2 or less, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803, 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 , kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, bleached, weight 150g/m2 or less, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803, unbleached sack kraft paper, uncoated, in rolls of a width > 36 cm , sack kraft paper, uncoated, in rolls of a width > 36 cm, sulphite wrapping paper and paper and paperboard, coated on one or both sides with kaolin "china clay" or other inorganic substances, with or without a binder, and with no other coating, whether or not surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, in rolls or in square or rectangular sheets, of any size lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 33%.

Among the main product categories, sack kraft paper, uncoated, in rolls of a width > 36 cm, with a CAGR of +35.3%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2023, the wrapping papers price stood at $2,083 per ton (FOB, France), rising by 7.8% against the previous year. Over the period from 2013 to 2023, it increased at an average annual rate of +2.8%. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2022 an increase of 17%. Over the period under review, the average export prices hit record highs in 2023 and is expected to retain growth in the near future.

There were significant differences in the average prices for the major overseas markets. In 2023, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was the United States ($3,509 per ton), while the average price for exports to Belgium ($1,199 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to the UK (+4.0%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform