US recovered paper exports decline in Q1

According to a report from the Paper Stock Industries chapter of the Washington-based Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, U.S. exports of recovered paper and fiber declined 8 percent in the first quarter of 2023 to 3.7 million metric tons compared with the first quarter last year.

The report shows the strongest demand coming from Thailand, which imported 747,105 metric tons of U.S. recovered paper in the first quarter of 2023, an increase of nearly 120 percent year over year. Comparatively, Thailand was the third-largest importer of U.S. recovered paper last year.

India, the largest importer of U.S. recovered paper in 2022, reduced its imports 37 percent this quarter to 684,417 metric tons compared with 1,089,404 metric tons in the first quarter last year. It was the steepest year-over-year decrease of the top 10 importers of U.S. recovered paper.

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In total, India imported 3,645,638 metric tons of U.S. recovered paper last year, surpassing the second-highest importer, Mexico, by more than a million metric tons.

Mexico was the third-highest importer in the first quarter, though its imports were down about 6 percent compared with the same period last year. It purchased 533,285 metric tons of U.S. recovered paper in the first quarter of 2023.

Vietnam, the fourth-highest importer for U.S. scrap paper exports in 2022, maintained that position in the first quarter of this year, importing 392,266 metric tons—down 12.5 percent year over year.

Thailand, Malaysia and China were the only countries of the top 10 importers to increase their imports of U.S. recovered paper in the first quarter.

Malaysia increased its purchases 8 percent, importing 264,162 metric tons from January to March, while China increased its purchases 11.2 percent with 200,608 metric tons imported in that same period.

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Indonesia saw the biggest decrease after India, reducing its imports by nearly 27 percent year over year. Of the remaining top 10, Taiwan (down 15.8 percent), Canada (down 14.2 percent) and South Korea (down 3 percent) also decreased year-over-year U.S. recovered paper imports in the first quarter.