Market research

Paper and paperboard waste market in Australia

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The Australian market for paper and paperboard waste saw a pronounced contraction between 2018 and 2023, with volume falling from 1 946 thousand tons to 1 547 thousand tons. This represented an overall decline of roughly 20%, or nearly 400 thousand tons, over the six-year span.

The downward trend was not uniform across the period. After a steady reduction through 2021, market volume briefly stabilized and even increased slightly in 2022, reaching 1 688 thousand tons. This interruption was short-lived, however, as the market dropped sharply again in 2023 to its lowest point in the observed period.

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, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Australia
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Australia in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Australia 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Australia in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Australia by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Australia in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Australia by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 Australia, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Australia by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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 Australia in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Australia by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Australia in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Australia by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 Australia, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Australia by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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 Australia in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Australia by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Australia in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Australia by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 Australia, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Australia by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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 Australia in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Australia by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Australia in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Australia by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 Australia, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Australia by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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, 2018-2025
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 Australia

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Between 2018 and 2021, Australia was one of the world's leading producers of paper and paperboard waste, ranking 17th globally by production volume.

Top producers of paper and paperboard waste, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of paper and paperboard waste, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Australia's production of paper and paperboard waste declined for the third consecutive year. In 2021, the country produced 2 757 K t, down 1.5% from 2020. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, production fell by 10%, which translates to an annualized decrease of 3.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Australia in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(4.8%)	(4.1%)	(1.5%)	(3.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports paper and paperboard waste from Australia

Exports in kind, K t

After two years of decline, Australia's exports of paper and paperboard waste increased in 2021, reaching 1 076 K t, a modest rise of 6.7% compared to the previous year. From 2018 to 2021, exports decreased by 4%, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.4%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2020 at 1 009 K t, while the largest decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 6.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Australia in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(6.0%)	(4.3%)	6.7%	(1.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Indonesia, China, and India were the largest buyers of paper and paperboard waste from Australia, accounting for 32.4%, 25.7%, and 11.3% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, these three countries made up 69.4% of Australia's total exports in this category.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Australia in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

The market for paper and paperboard waste exports from Australia showed an unstable trend during this period. In 2021, exports reached 204.8 M $ US, a significant increase of 70.6% from 2020. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 120.1 M $ US, and the largest decline occurred in 2019, falling by 27.6%. Overall, export volumes varied 1.7 times from the low in 2020 to the high in 2021.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Australia in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(27.6%)	(6.2%)	70.6%	5.0%

Source: SHEV.io

In value terms, Indonesia, China, and India were the leading destinations for Australia's paper and paperboard waste exports from 2018 to 2021. Indonesia accounted for 37.0% of exports, China for 24.6%, and India for 11.3%, collectively representing 72.9% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Australia in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports paper and paperboard waste to Australia

Imports in kind, K t

Australia's imports of paper and paperboard waste exhibited an unstable trend from 2018 to 2021. In 2021, imports surged to 6 K t, a sharp increase of 370.4% year-over-year. The lowest volume was recorded in 2020 at 1 K t, which also saw the largest decline of 61.5%. Import volumes peaked in 2021 and fell to a trough in 2020, with a 4.7-fold difference between these years.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Australia in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.2%	(61.5%)	370.4%	25.5%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, New Zealand, Fiji, and the United States were the main sources of paper and paperboard waste imports to Australia. New Zealand accounted for 56.1% of imports in kind, Fiji for 14.2%, and the United States for 11.4%, together making up 81.8% of total imports.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Australia in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Australia's imports of paper and paperboard waste in value terms declined for the second consecutive year. In 2021, imports totaled 1.1 M $ US, down 15.4% from the previous year. From 2018 to 2021, imports decreased by 56.2%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 24.0%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 1.1 M $ US, while the largest decline occurred in 2020, dropping by 56.0%. The largest increase was in 2019, rising by 17.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Australia in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	17.8%	(56.0%)	(15.4%)	(24.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, New Zealand, the United States, and Singapore were consistently the main destinations for Australia's imports of paper and paperboard waste in value terms. New Zealand accounted for 33.6% of imports, the United States for 24.8%, and Singapore for 17.8%, together representing 76.2% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Australia in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io