Market research

Paper and paperboard waste market in Argentina

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

The market volume for paper and paperboard waste in Argentina declined from 986 thousand tons in 2018 to 914 thousand tons in 2020. This decrease coincided with China's implementation of the National Sword program in 2020, which strictly limited imports of recycled paper and cardboard, reducing global demand and indirectly affecting Argentina's market dynamics.

From 2021, the market rebounded sharply, reaching 1,297 thousand tons in 2022. This growth was primarily driven by a significant increase in domestic production, which rose from 840 thousand tons in 2020 to 1,268 thousand tons in 2022. During this period, the government's move to allow the export of scrap metal and waste under the Javier Milei administration may have influenced the recycling sector, while persistent low prices for recycled paper and lobbying against packaging legislation presented ongoing challenges.

In 2023, the market volume stabilized at 1,277 thousand tons, showing a slight adjustment. The introduction of Decree 392/2023, which granted the Ministry of Economy greater authority in evaluating imports of valorized waste, aimed to strengthen the local recovery chain and may have contributed to market consolidation.

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 Argentina
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Argentina in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Argentina 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 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, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, 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 Argentina in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Argentina 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 Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina 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, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, 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 Argentina in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Argentina 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 Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Trade balance
1. 7.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 7.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.2.2. In value, K $ US
8. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 8.1. Direct Data
  1. 8.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 8.2. Mirror Data
  1. 8.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production paper and paperboard waste in Argentina

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Argentina ranked as the 30th largest producer of paper and paperboard waste globally.

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

Argentina's production of paper and paperboard waste declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 840.1 K t, marking a 1.9% decrease from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, overall production fell by 12.5%, which translates to an average annual decline of 4.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.4%)	(9.6%)	(1.9%)	(4.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports paper and paperboard waste from Argentina

Exports in kind, t

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Argentina's export pattern in kind was heavily reliant on Bolivia, which accounted for 93.0% of total exports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017–2020 period, Bolivia dominated Argentina's export structure in value terms, consistently making up 95.3% of total exports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports paper and paperboard waste to Argentina

Imports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during this period. Import volumes hit their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 5.9-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Argentina's paper and paperboard waste imports totaled 74 145 t, down 13.7% from the previous year. The highest volume was recorded in 2019 at 85 953 t, while the largest year-over-year increase occurred in 2018 at 168.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	168.8%	119.8%	(13.7%)	72.1%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States (42.5% of imports in kind), Chile (33.2%), and Uruguay (24.2%) were the top sources for Argentina's imports in kind, together representing 99.9% of total imports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The market showed volatility over the observed years. Import values were lowest in 2017 and highest in 2019, with a 5.3-fold gap between these two years. In 2020, Argentina's paper and paperboard waste imports were valued at 15 278 K $ US, a significant 19.7% drop from the year before. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 19 025 K $ US, and the largest increase happened in 2018 at 151.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	151.6%	109.1%	(19.7%)	61.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States (40.8% of imports in value terms), Chile (35.1%), and Uruguay (23.9%) led Argentina's import structure in value terms, collectively accounting for 99.9% of total imports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io