Corrugated paper and paperboard market in Austria

Earlier Report Observations

Starting in 2018, the Austrian paper and board industry expanded by 3.3% in volume, supported by a shift toward recycled materials and sustainable production practices. For corrugated paper and paperboard, imports reached 72 765 tonnes that year, indicating substantial domestic demand.

From 2021 onwards, production of corrugated paper and paperboard peaked at 58 124 tonnes but contracted to 41 134 tonnes by 2023. Market volume followed a similar trend, falling from 116 960 tonnes to 97 401 tonnes over the same period. This decline was driven by soaring energy and labor costs in 2023, along with regulatory uncertainty surrounding the EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR), which pressured profitability.

In 2024, sales volume stabilized with a slight 0.7% decrease, although revenue fell by 6.8%. The industry responded with a focus on sustainable packaging innovations and maintained a recycling rate above 90%, positioning itself to meet upcoming EU requirements while key players remained active.

Production corrugated paper and paperboard in Austria

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Annual dynamics of production in Austria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Annual dynamics of production in Austria in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports corrugated paper and paperboard from Austria

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Austria exported 16 318 tonnes of corrugated paper and paperboard, showing little change from the 16 259 tonnes recorded in 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports declined by 4.6%, with an average annual decrease of 1.6%. The lowest export volume was in 2019 at 16 259 tonnes, while the peak occurred in 2018 with 18 661 tonnes. The sharpest drop was in 2019 at 12.9%, whereas the largest increase was in 2018 at 9.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Austria in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Germany, Slovakia, and Czechia were the key destinations for Austria's corrugated paper and paperboard exports by volume. Germany accounted for 38.9% of exports, Slovakia for 13.4%, and Czechia for 13.2%, together making up 65.5% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Austria in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Austria's corrugated paper and paperboard exports reached 17 873 thousand US dollars, a 2.3% increase from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 7.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.6%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 21 832 thousand US dollars. The most significant decline occurred in 2019 at 20.0%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 31.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Austria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017-2020, Germany, Switzerland, and Czechia were the top buyers of Austria's corrugated paper and paperboard by value. Germany held a 40.6% share, Switzerland 15.7%, and Czechia 11.7%, collectively representing 67.9% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Austria in value, 2017-2020

Imports corrugated paper and paperboard to Austria

Imports in kind, t

After two years of decline, Austria's imports of corrugated paper and paperboard rose slightly in 2020. The volume imported was 71 950 tonnes, up 0.6% year-on-year from 71 513 tonnes in 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 5.5%, with an average annual decrease of 1.9%. The lowest import volume was in 2019 at 71 513 tonnes. The largest decline was in 2018 at 4.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Austria in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Germany and Czechia dominated Austria's imports of corrugated paper and paperboard by volume, together accounting for 93.2% of total import flows, with other partners making up the remainder.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Austria in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Austria's imports of corrugated paper and paperboard declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, totaling 63 745 thousand US dollars, a 3.2% drop from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 5.1%, with an average annual decline of 1.7%. The peak import value was in 2018 at 74 404 thousand US dollars. The sharpest fall was in 2019 at 11.5%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 10.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Austria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2017-2020, Germany and Czechia remained the leading sources for Austria's corrugated paper and paperboard imports by value, jointly representing 89.2% of total import flows, with other partners contributing the rest.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Austria in value, 2017-2020