September 2023 Sees Slight Decrease in Folding Boxboard Imports to $97M in Poland

Poland Folding Boxboard Imports

In September 2023, folding boxboard imports into Poland dropped to 66K tons, with a decrease of -5.4% against the previous month's figure. Overall, imports recorded a mild downturn. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in March 2023 with an increase of 9.1% m-o-m.

In value terms, folding boxboard imports contracted to $97M (IndexBox estimates) in September 2023. Over the period under review, imports saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in May 2023 when imports increased by 13% month-to-month.

Imports by Country

In September 2023, Germany (27K tons) constituted the largest supplier of folding boxboard to Poland, with a 41% share of total imports. Moreover, folding boxboard imports from Germany exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Finland (12K tons), twofold. The third position in this ranking was held by Sweden (6.9K tons), with a 10% share.

From September 2022 to September 2023, the average monthly growth rate of volume from Germany was relatively modest. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average monthly rates of imports growth: Finland (-1.1% per month) and Sweden (-2.0% per month).

In value terms, Germany ($43M) constituted the largest supplier of folding boxboard to Poland, comprising 44% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Finland ($16M), with a 17% share of total imports. It was followed by Sweden, with a 9.6% share.

From September 2022 to September 2023, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of value from Germany was relatively modest. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average monthly rates of imports growth: Finland (+0.4% per month) and Sweden (-0.2% per month).

Imports by Type

In September 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 (39K tons) constituted the largest type of folding boxboard supplied to Poland, accounting for a 59% 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/m², and adhesives) (16K tons), twofold. 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 (5.7K tons) ranked third in terms of total imports with an 8.6% share.

From September 2022 to September 2023, the average monthly growth rate of the volume of import 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 totaled -1.9%. With regard to the other supplied products, the following average monthly 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/m², and adhesives) (+1.2% per month) and 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 (-2.3% per month).

In value terms, the most traded types of folding boxboard in Poland were 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/m², and adhesives) ($42M), 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 ($42M) 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/m² ($5.3M), together accounting for 93% of total imports. These products were followed by 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, 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, 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/m² , 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, kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, unbleached, weight 225g/m2 or more, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading no. 4802 or 4803 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, which together accounted for a further 7.4%.

Import Prices by Country

In September 2023, the folding boxboard price amounted to $1,457 per ton (CIF, Poland), almost unchanged from the previous month. Over the period from September 2022 to September 2023, it increased at an average monthly rate of +1.3%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in May 2023 an increase of 7.2% month-to-month. As a result, import price reached the peak level of $1,541 per ton; afterwards, it flattened through to September 2023.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In September 2023, the country with the highest price was Serbia ($2,319 per ton), while the price for Austria ($783 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From September 2022 to September 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Serbia (+4.3%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform