Market research

Fibreboard market in New Zealand

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

New Zealand's fibreboard market volume declined from 337.6 thousand cubic meters in 2018 to 203.1 thousand cubic meters in 2023. Increased harvests of radiata pine in the preceding years provided a raw material base for Medium Density Fibreboard production, supporting an output of 791.5 thousand cubic meters in 2018. The market size fell sharply to 198.6 thousand cubic meters in 2020, recovered to 246.2 thousand cubic meters in 2021, then contracted to 202.8 thousand cubic meters in 2022 before stabilizing near 203 thousand cubic meters in 2023.

By 2024, timber demand was down due to receding housing starts in New Zealand driven by high interest rates, directly impacting the wood processing sector and fibreboard markets. Simultaneously, China's struggling property market limited demand for New Zealand's forestry exports, pressuring supply chains. In 2025, the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill included panel products like fibreboard, potentially altering regulatory frameworks, while construction sector trends emphasized ongoing uncertainty from trade tariffs and economic conditions, though renovation activity continued to support demand.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in New Zealand
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in New Zealand in kind, 2018-2023, K m³
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in New Zealand in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K m³
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K m³
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K m³
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from New Zealand in kind, 2018-2025, K m³
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, K m³
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from New Zealand in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/m³
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from New Zealand, 2018-2025, $ US/m³
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/m³
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K m³
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from New Zealand in kind, 2018-2025, K m³
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, K m³
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from New Zealand in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/m³
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from New Zealand, 2018-2025, $ US/m³
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/m³
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K m³
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in kind, 2018-2025, K m³
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, K m³
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/m³
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to New Zealand, 2018-2025, $ US/m³
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/m³
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K m³
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in kind, 2018-2025, K m³
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, K m³
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/m³
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to New Zealand, 2018-2025, $ US/m³
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/m³
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K m³
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K m³
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production fibreboard in New Zealand

In kind, 2018-2021, K m³

Between 2018 and 2021, New Zealand was one of the world's leading fibreboard producers, ranking 21st globally by production volume.

Top producers of fibreboard, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of fibreboard, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

New Zealand's fibreboard production rebounded in 2021 after a two-year decline. The country produced 737.6 K m³ of fibreboard that year, representing an 8.3% increase compared to 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, production decreased by 6.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.3%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2020 at 681.2 K m³, which marked the largest decline of 9.2% during this timeframe.

Annual dynamics of production in New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021, K m³

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(5.2%)	(9.2%)	8.3%	(2.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2018-2021, M $ US

New Zealand's fibreboard production value recovered in 2021 following a two-year decrease. The output was valued at 256.5 M $ US that year, showing a 22.6% rise compared to 2020. From 2018 to 2021, production value declined by 22.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.3%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 209.2 M $ US, which represented the most significant drop of 27.0% during this period.

Annual dynamics of production in New Zealand in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(13.7%)	(27.0%)	22.6%	(8.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports fibreboard from New Zealand

Exports in kind, K m³

New Zealand's fibreboard exports grew for the second consecutive year in 2021, reaching 531.1 K m³, a 4.9% increase compared to 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, exports rose by 10.1%, equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 3.2%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 480.3 K m³, which saw a slight decline of 0.5%. The most substantial increase occurred in 2020 with a 5.4% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021, K m³

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.5%)	5.4%	4.9%	3.2%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Japan accounted for 51.1% of New Zealand's fibreboard exports by volume, followed by Vietnam with 11.0% and the United States with 9.5%. Together, these three markets represented 71.6% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

New Zealand's fibreboard export value increased in 2021 after a two-year decline, reaching 184.6 M $ US, an 18.8% year-over-year growth. Between 2018 and 2021, export value decreased by 8.9%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 3.0%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 155.4 M $ US, which marked the largest decline of 15.3% during this period.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from New Zealand in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(9.4%)	(15.3%)	18.8%	(3.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2018-2021, Japan dominated New Zealand's fibreboard exports by value with 55.5%, followed by Vietnam at 9.7% and the United States at 8.7%. These three countries collectively accounted for 73.9% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from New Zealand in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports fibreboard to New Zealand

Imports in kind, K m³

New Zealand imported 39.6 K m³ of fibreboard in 2021, a substantial 69.5% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, imports grew by 38.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.4%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2020 at 23.4 K m³, which saw the largest decline of 23.7% during this timeframe.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021, K m³

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	6.9%	(23.7%)	69.5%	11.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, Belgium, Australia, and China were the main sources of fibreboard imports to New Zealand, together accounting for 58.7% of total import volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

New Zealand's fibreboard import value reached 18.9 M $ US in 2021, showing a 39.3% increase compared to the previous year. From 2018 to 2021, import value rose by 42.6%, equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 12.6%. The largest decline occurred in 2020 with a 4.5% decrease.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.2%	(4.5%)	39.3%	12.6%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Belgium remained the leading supplier of fibreboard to New Zealand by value with 23.3%, followed by Australia at 20.7% and China at 14.9%. These three countries together accounted for 58.9% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to New Zealand in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io