Newsprint market in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the newsprint market volume in Eastern Europe fell from 878 thousand tonnes to 446 thousand tonnes. This decline was primarily driven by a sustained drop in demand for print newspapers and magazines as readers and publishers shifted to digital formats. Domestic production decreased from 1 622 thousand tonnes to 993 thousand tonnes over the period, while imports also trended downward, reflecting weaker consumption.

External shocks further accelerated the contraction. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused global logistical disruptions and reduced export volumes by 15.3% year-on-year. In 2022, EU sanctions prohibited imports of wood pulp and paper from Russia, cutting off component supplies and pushing production costs up by 45–80%, which severely hampered newsprint output and availability.

Simultaneously, the paper industry underwent a structural shift toward packaging and sanitary-hygiene papers. Major manufacturers like Mondi Syktyvkar LPK expanded in these segments, supported by changing consumer preferences. While this supported overall paper and cardboard production, it did not reverse the newsprint segment’s decline, which remained on a downward path according to 2024 industry reports.

Production newsprint in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of newsprint, 2017-2020

World map of production of newsprint, 2017-2020

Newsprint production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) fell for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 1 359 K t of newsprint, marking a 16.0% decline from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production dropped by 13.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.6%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 1 622 K t, which also saw the largest annual increase of 3.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports newsprint from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Exports in kind, K t

Following two years of growth, foreign newsprint supplies from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) decreased. In 2020, exports totaled 1 040 K t, showing a significant 18.4% drop from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports fell by 8.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.0%. The peak export volume was in 2019 at 1 275 K t, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 6.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, India, China, and Turkey were the key partners for newsprint exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia), accounting for 40.8%, 13.1%, and 5.6% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, they represented 59.6% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Newsprint exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, export value reached 377.4 M $ US, a sharp 35.1% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports dropped by 22.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.1%. The highest export value was recorded in 2018 at 684.4 M $ US, which also saw the largest annual increase of 41.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, India, China, and Turkey were the three main markets for newsprint exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value terms, collectively absorbing 56.9% of total export value.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020

Imports newsprint to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Imports in kind, K t

Newsprint imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports registered 342 K t, a 5.4% decrease from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 24.7%, equating to an annualized rate of 9.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Austria, Sweden, and Germany formed the main cluster of markets for newsprint imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, with shares of 23.4%, 18.1%, and 17.6%, respectively. Together, they accounted for 59.1% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Newsprint imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) fell for the second year in a row. In 2020, import value reached 202.9 M $ US, reflecting a strong 17.5% reduction from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 17.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.3%. The peak import value was in 2018 at 292.1 M $ US, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 18.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Throughout 2017-2020, Austria, Sweden, and Germany remained the main markets for newsprint imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value terms, with shares of 22.7%, 18.8%, and 18.6%, respectively. Collectively, they took 60.1% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020