Learn about the factors influencing Middle Eastern containerboard price movements, including shifting demand and a changing regulatory landscape

"If demand increases, even slightly, we may experience further price increases as early as October," a source said. 

Three factors that shaped the first half of 2024 for European paper packaging markets – and our outlook for the second half

In the week leading up to August 15, prices for old corrugated container (OCC) imports into Southeast Asia and Taiwan varied, leading to reduced demand and lower prices for US OCC in the region.

US mills increased their consumption of recovered paper by 6.8% year-over-year, driven by a significant rise in demand for old corrugated containers (OCC) and mixed paper.

US paper and board mills are anticipated to use more recovered fiber in their production this year than ever before, jumping to represent nearly 45% of total paper consumption, according to recently published trade statistics

After two difficult years, we anticipate demand for containerboard and corrugated board in Europe will start to recover this year. However, sluggish growth in the European economy will likely continue to be sluggish and consumer spending remains uncertain in the near term. Challenges will increase as containerboard capacity grows faster than demand during the next […]

Prices for locally produced containerboard rose in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in January. In late December, the Middle East Paper Company (MEPCO) announced a price hike of $70 per tonne, starting January 1. Several other producers in the region have also demanded increases of various magnitudes from their customers. Generally, our contacts reported […]

The recovered paper market showed some upward price movements again for the mixed grade and old corrugated containers in November, while the deinking grade had more stable development

PfR prices rose with European buyers’ efforts to limit the gap between domestic and export prices