Market research

Paper and paperboard waste market in Africa

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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"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 African paper and paperboard waste market showed notable fluctuations between 2018 and 2024. The period began with the formation of RecyclePaperZA in 2018, an association of paper recycling companies that helped organize the recovery sector. Growing demand for recycled paper fibre and high cardboard recycling rates supported market expansion in 2019, and by 2020 the market volume peaked at 2.3 million tonnes.

The introduction of extended producer responsibility (EPR) in May 2021 altered the regulatory landscape and coincided with a contraction to 1.9 million tonnes that year. A post‑pandemic recovery in the printing industry boosted demand for paper products, lifting the market back to 2.1 million tonnes in 2022. However, economic headwinds and declining profitability in the manufacturing sector led to another decline to 2.0 million tonnes in 2023.

Sustainability trends remained influential, with a paper and packaging recycling rate around 60% in 2024, while demographic shifts such as a growing youth population continued to drive demand for efficient carton‑based packaging solutions.

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, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ 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, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ 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, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ 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, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ 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, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ 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 paper and paperboard waste in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of paper and paperboard waste, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of paper and paperboard waste, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Africa's production of paper and paperboard waste has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the continent produced 2,123 thousand tonnes, marking a 3.7% decrease from 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production fell by 4.9%, with an average annual decline of 1.7%. The highest production level was in 2018 at 2,327 thousand tonnes, which saw a 4.2% increase. The largest drop occurred in 2019, with a 5.3% decrease.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.2%	(5.3%)	(3.7%)	(1.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The value of Africa's paper and paperboard waste production has decreased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, output was valued at 257.5 million US dollars, representing a significant 17.8% drop compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production value declined by 33.7%, averaging an annual decrease of 12.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(12.5%)	(7.9%)	(17.8%)	(12.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports paper and paperboard waste from Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Africa's exports of paper and paperboard waste have fallen for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 225.9 thousand tonnes, down 13.6% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 35.2%, with an average annual decline of 13.5%. The peak was in 2018 at 402.6 thousand tonnes, which saw a 15.4% increase. The sharpest decline was in 2019, with a 35.1% drop.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.4%	(35.1%)	(13.6%)	(13.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Africa's exports of paper and paperboard waste in volume terms were spread across many countries. India accounted for 33.9% of exports, Vietnam for 7.3%, and Thailand for 6.9%, together making up 48.1% of total flows. The remaining 51.9% was distributed among a wide range of other destinations.

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, K $ US

Africa's exports of paper and paperboard waste in value terms have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 27,398 thousand US dollars, a 26.2% decrease from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, export value fell by 54.9%, with an average annual drop of 23.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.1%)	(36.8%)	(26.2%)	(23.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Africa's exports of paper and paperboard waste in value terms were diversified across numerous markets. India represented 36.9% of exports, Thailand 8.5%, and Turkey 4.5%, together accounting for 49.9% of total flows. Many other countries held smaller but notable shares.

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 paper and paperboard waste to Africa

Imports in kind, K t

The import market for paper and paperboard waste in Africa showed an unstable trend from 2017 to 2020. The lowest volume was in 2018 at 102.6 thousand tonnes, which saw a 24.6% decline. Imports then surged, reaching 363.8 thousand tonnes in 2020, a dramatic 154.9% increase from 2019. This created a 3.5-fold gap between the low in 2018 and the peak in 2020.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(24.6%)	39.0%	154.9%	38.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Africa's imports of paper and paperboard waste in volume terms were widely dispersed among partner countries. The United States accounted for 24.5% of imports, China for 10.2%, and India for 6.8%, together representing 41.5% of total flows. The rest was spread across many other nations.

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, K $ US

Africa's imports of paper and paperboard waste in value terms have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import value reached 57,113 thousand US dollars, a steep 33.2% rise from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 38.2%, with an average annual increase of 11.4%. The lowest value was in 2018 at 35,977 thousand US dollars, which saw a 12.9% decline.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(12.9%)	19.2%	33.2%	11.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Africa's imports of paper and paperboard waste in value terms came from a broad range of suppliers. The United States contributed 23.3% of imports, China 16.7%, and Turkey 7.2%, together making up 47.1% of total import value. Many other countries had smaller but significant shares.

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