Market research

Paper and paperboard waste market in Asia

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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"Asia" region includes following countries:

China

Hong Kong

Japan

North Korea

South Korea

Macao

Mongolia

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

Sri Lanka

India

Iran

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Brunei Darussalam

Myanmar

Cambodia

Indonesia

Laos

Malaysia

the Philippines

Timor-Leste

Singapore

Vietnam

Thailand

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan

Azerbaijan

Armenia

Bahrain

Cyprus

Georgia

Palestine

Iraq

Israel

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Turkey

the United Arab Emirates

Yemen

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for paper and paperboard waste in Asia expanded from 121.3 million metric tons in 2018 to 127.7 million metric tons by 2023. This growth followed a temporary contraction in 2019, with steady increases thereafter as domestic production rose consistently over the period.

By 2024, regulatory action in China targeted the utilization of over 80 million metric tons of recycled paper, driving investment toward advanced separation infrastructure. Extended Producer Responsibility mandates forced packaging producers to finance waste management operations directly, while robust demand for paperboard from e-commerce and sustainable packaging sustained market activity. Major companies across the region invested in recycling technologies to meet these regulatory and consumer demands.

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 Asia
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Asia in kind, 2018-2023, M t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, M 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, M 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 China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China 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 China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China 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 China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China 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 China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China 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 China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China 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 China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China 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 China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China 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 China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China 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 China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China 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 China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China 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 China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China 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 China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China 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 paper and paperboard waste in Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, M 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

Paper and paperboard waste production in Asia increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Asia produced 104.5 million tonnes of paper and paperboard waste, which was 3.1% higher than the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 3.8%, averaging an annualized rate of 1.2%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 99.4 million tonnes, with the largest decline of 1.3% occurring that same year.

Annual dynamics of production in Asia in kind, 2017-2020, M t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.3%)	1.9%	3.1%	1.2%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Asia's paper and paperboard waste production declined in value for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 17 199 million US dollars, representing a year-on-year decrease of 4.2%. From 2017 to 2020, production value fell by 11.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -4.1%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 20 501 million US dollars, which saw the largest increase of 5.1% that year. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 12.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	5.1%	(12.4%)	(4.2%)	(4.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports paper and paperboard waste from Asia

Exports in kind, K t

Paper and paperboard waste exports from Asia declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 4 963 thousand tonnes, down by 3.6% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 39.8%, averaging an annualized decline of 15.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(7.8%)	(32.3%)	(3.6%)	(15.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Asia, not elsewhere specified, played the leading role in exports of paper and paperboard waste from Asia, accounting for 5.7% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Cross-border shipments of paper and paperboard waste from Asia declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Asia exported 817 million US dollars worth of paper and paperboard waste, marking a reduction of 10.5% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value decreased by 48.9%, with an annualized rate of decline of 20.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.8%)	(41.9%)	(10.5%)	(20.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Asia, not elsewhere specified, formed the largest share of exports in value terms for paper and paperboard waste from Asia, taking 5.0% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports paper and paperboard waste to Asia

Imports in kind, K t

Asia's paper and paperboard waste import volume declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 18 606 thousand tonnes, showing a year-on-year decline of 7.6%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 43.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of -17.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(10.7%)	(31.7%)	(7.6%)	(17.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, three main markets—the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy—together absorbed 53.5% of total imports of paper and paperboard waste to Asia.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Paper and paperboard waste deliveries to Asia declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 3 044 million US dollars, corresponding to a notable drop of 13.2% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, import value decreased by 60.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of -26.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(20.2%)	(43.3%)	(13.2%)	(26.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States, with 39.4% of imports in value terms, the United Kingdom at 9.9%, and the Netherlands at 4.4%, remained the principal suppliers of paper and paperboard waste to Asia. Together, they accounted for 53.7% of total imports in value terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io