Germany's 2023 Folding Boxboard Exports Decline by 5% to $3 Billion

Germany Folding Boxboard Exports

In 2023, exports of folding boxboard from Germany contracted to 1.8M tons, with a decrease of -11.9% against the year before. In general, exports continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 when exports increased by 8.5%. As a result, the exports reached the peak of 2.1M tons. From 2022 to 2023, the growth of the exports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, folding boxboard exports fell to $3B (IndexBox estimates) in 2023. Overall, exports, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 with an increase of 20%. Over the period under review, the exports hit record highs at $3.2B in 2022, and then fell in the following year.

Exports by Country

Poland (302K tons), France (256K tons) and the Netherlands (126K tons) were the main destinations of folding boxboard exports from Germany, with a combined 38% share of total exports. Italy, the UK, Belgium and the United States lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 20%.

From 2013 to 2023, the biggest increases were recorded for Italy (with a CAGR of +3.3%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Poland ($483M), France ($341M) and Italy ($204M) appeared to be the largest markets for folding boxboard exported from Germany worldwide, with a combined 34% share of total exports.

Among the main countries of destination, Poland, with a CAGR of +4.1%, recorded 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 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 (812K tons), 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 (458K tons) 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 (excluding bleached and weighing > 150 g/m, and adhesives) (379K tons) were the main products of folding boxboard exports from Germany, together accounting for 93% of total exports. 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 , 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, 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, 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, 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; 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 7.4%.

From 2013 to 2023, the biggest increases were recorded for 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 (with a CAGR of +53.0%), while shipments for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

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) ($1.4B), 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 ($836M) 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 ($364M) appeared to be the most exported types of folding boxboard from Germany worldwide, with a combined 86% share of total exports. 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, 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, 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 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 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; 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 accounting for a further 14%.

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, with a CAGR of +49.8%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of exports, among the main product categories over the period under review, while shipments for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2023, the folding boxboard price amounted to $1,679 per ton (FOB, Germany), with an increase of 7.6% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the export price continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2022 an increase of 14%. The export price peaked in 2023 and is expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Russia ($7,108 per ton), while the average price for exports to France ($1,334 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 Russia (+9.8%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform