Market research

Newsprint market in Africa

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

"Africa" region includes following countries:

Algeria

Libya

Morocco

Sudan

Western Sahara

Tunisia

Egypt

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Eswatini

Earlier Report Observations

The newsprint market volume in Africa grew from 457.9 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 491.5 thousand tonnes in 2019, supported by rising domestic consumption of paper products in South Africa. This expansion was sharply interrupted in 2020 when the market contracted to 333.1 thousand tonnes, as the COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread supply chain disruptions and accelerated a permanent shift in consumer news consumption toward digital formats.

A post-pandemic recovery lifted the market to 351.3 thousand tonnes in 2021. Demand then stabilized around 340-345 thousand tonnes through 2022 and 2023, with the ongoing digital transformation of media and changing reader preferences continuing to limit growth for newsprint. By 2024, these structural trends were firmly entrenched, with print media facing sustained pressure from digital alternatives while industry focus remained on sustainability and recycling initiatives.

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, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  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 t
  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. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
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 newsprint in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of newsprint, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of newsprint, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Newsprint production in Africa has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, Africa produced 72.2 K t of newsprint, which represents a significant 40.8% decrease compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 63.1%, with an average annual decline of 28.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(34.1%)	(5.5%)	(40.8%)	(28.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of newsprint output in Africa was 40.1 M $ US, showing a sharp 44.3% drop year-over-year. From 2017 to 2020, production value decreased by 65%, with an average annual decline of 29.5%. The only increase during this period occurred in 2019, at 6.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(41.1%)	6.7%	(44.3%)	(29.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports newsprint from Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Newsprint exports from Africa have declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Africa exported 18.1 K t of newsprint, marking a sudden 29.8% fall compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 53.4%, with an average annual decline of 22.5%. The highest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 66.1 K t, which also saw the largest increase of 69.7%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the largest decline of 60.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	69.7%	(60.9%)	(29.8%)	(22.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China was the primary market for Africa's newsprint exports in kind, accounting for 42.4% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Exported newsprint values from Africa have declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, Africa exported 10.1 M $ US of newsprint, showing a 34.0% loss compared to the previous year. Over the period 2017-2020, export values decreased by 55.8%, with an average annual decline of 23.8%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 34.6 M $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 51.8%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 55.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	51.8%	(55.9%)	(34.0%)	(23.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China remained the key partner for Africa's newsprint exports in value terms, holding a 20.9% share of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports newsprint to Africa

Imports in kind, K t

After a two-year rise, newsprint imports into Africa declined. In 2020, imports amounted to 279.0 K t, marking a 29.4% drop compared to 2019. Over the period 2017-2020, imports decreased by 23.5%, with an average annual decline of 8.5%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 395.3 K t, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 8.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	8.3%	0.1%	(29.4%)	(8.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the partner landscape for newsprint imports in kind was diverse. Russia, Sweden, and Norway accounted for 27.7%, 10.4%, and 9.6% of imports in kind, respectively, totaling 47.7% of total flows. The remaining 52.3% was supplied by many other countries.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Newsprint imports into Africa have declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports stood at 152.5 M $ US, amounting to a 40.2% reduction year-over-year. From 2017 to 2020, import values decreased by 27.4%, with an average annual decline of 10.1%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 275.7 M $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 31.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	31.2%	(7.5%)	(40.2%)	(10.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, newsprint was supplied to Africa from a broad set of markets. Russia, Sweden, and Canada accounted for 26.4%, 9.6%, and 9.5% of imports in value terms, respectively, totaling 45.5% of total imports. Many smaller destinations made up the remaining 54.5%.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io