Paper and paperboard packing and office articles market in Slovenia

Earlier Report Observations

The Slovenian market for paper and paperboard packing and office articles entered the period supported by economic growth and increased demand for corrugated cardboard from industries like beverages. A strong focus on sustainable materials and recycling led local companies to innovate with recycled content and reduce carbon footprints. When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in 2020, it caused a temporary dip in production volumes, but robust demand for cardboard packaging from surging e-commerce helped stabilize overall market volume.

A key driver from 2021 was the EU-wide ban on single-use plastic packaging for restaurants, which shifted demand toward paper and cardboard alternatives and contributed to a recovery in domestic production. Continued e-commerce growth and sustainability initiatives, such as replacing foam inserts with corrugated cardboard, supported market expansion. Slovenian packaging firms also adopted multi-color digital printing and solutions to improve logistics and handling in response to these trends.

In the following years, import volumes of these packaging articles continued their upward trajectory, reaching 58.7 thousand tons in 2024, while exports fluctuated between 30 and 38 thousand tons. This sustained import growth points to persistent domestic demand, reinforced by environmental regulations and shifting consumer preferences toward sustainable packaging.

Production paper and paperboard packing and office articles in Slovenia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

In 2020, Slovenia produced 99.6 K t of paper and paperboard packing and office articles, representing a controlled contraction of 4.6% compared to the previous year.

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

Exports paper and paperboard packing and office articles from Slovenia

Exports in kind, t

Slovenia's exports of paper and paperboard packing and office articles declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 29 400 t, marking a moderate drop of 6.0% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 11.6%, which equates to an annualized rate of 4.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Austria (16.2% of exports in kind), Germany (14.2% of exports in kind), and the Netherlands (13.1% of exports in kind) were the largest buyers of paper and paperboard packing and office articles from Slovenia. Together, they accounted for 43.5% of total exports in kind, with the remainder distributed among a broad range of smaller partners.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Slovenia's exports of paper and paperboard packing and office articles declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, export volume reached 81 054 K $ US, showing a small fall of 1.2% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 4.3%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.4%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 82 553 K $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 6.2%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, exports in value terms of paper and paperboard packing and office articles from Slovenia were not heavily concentrated on a few key markets. Germany (16.7% of exports in value terms), Austria (15.8% of exports in value terms), and the Netherlands (11.3% of exports in value terms) jointly accounted for only 43.7% of total flows.

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

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

Imports paper and paperboard packing and office articles to Slovenia

Imports in kind, t

Imports of paper and paperboard packing and office articles into Slovenia increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import volume amounted to 41 646 t, up by 2.4% year-over-year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 3.5%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.2%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 38 201 t, which saw the largest decline of 5.0%. In contrast, the largest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 6.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Croatia (33.3% of imports in kind), Italy (27.8% of imports in kind), and Germany (9.2% of imports in kind) accounted for the largest share of imports in kind, together comprising 70.3% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Imports of foreign paper and paperboard packing and office articles into Slovenia increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, import volume amounted to 69 662 K $ US, representing a slight rise of 1.3% year-over-year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 10.4%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Italy (23.0% of imports in value terms), Croatia (22.8% of imports in value terms), and Germany (12.7% of imports in value terms) remained the key directions for imports in value terms, together taking 58.4% of total flows.

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

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