Paper and paperboard waste market in Lebanon

Earlier Report Observations

The market for paper and paperboard waste in Lebanon remained stable at around 26 000 tons annually from 2018 to 2019, with minimal import activity. During this period, the private sector began to organize, marked by the establishment of Lebanon Waste Management company in 2019, which aimed to improve collection and awareness. A government decree in September 2019 mandated municipalities to support source sorting of waste, setting the stage for increased recovery.

Market volume grew significantly to 36 287 tons by 2021, driven primarily by a surge in imports which exceeded 11 000 tons that year. This reflected the growing needs of the local cardboard recycling industry, which required feedstock, and the expanding role of private processors. In 2022, however, the market volume declined to 31 316 tons as rising prices for recyclables like cardboard made export more attractive, leading to a jump in outbound shipments.

A sharp contraction followed in 2023, with the market shrinking to 12 498 tons. This was largely due to the Lebanese economic crisis and currency depreciation, which made trading scrap paper for foreign currency highly profitable. Consequently, exports soared to over 14 000 tons, draining domestic supply, while local initiatives offered financial incentives for collection to mitigate the waste crisis.

Production paper and paperboard waste in Lebanon

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of paper and paperboard waste, 2017-2020

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

In 2020, Lebanon produced 26 000 tonnes of paper and paperboard waste, showing little to no change from the previous year. The largest decline and increase both occurred in 2018, each at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Lebanon in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports paper and paperboard waste from Lebanon

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Lebanon's cross-border shipments of paper and paperboard waste totaled 1 393 tonnes, with no significant difference from the year before. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 40.6%, which translates to an annualized decline of 15.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, India and Turkey were the primary partner countries for exports in kind, together accounting for 91.4% of total flows, while other partners made up the remainder.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Lebanon's paper and paperboard waste exports reached 167.6 thousand US dollars, showing no major change compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports dropped by 59.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of -25.7%.

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

During 2017-2020, India and Turkey combined captured 90.3% of total exports in value terms, with the rest distributed thinly across other markets.

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

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

Imports paper and paperboard waste to Lebanon

Imports in kind, t

The market showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. Imports hit their lowest point in 2018 at 0.0 tonnes, with the largest decline of 100.0% recorded that year. In 2019, imports surged by 231,430.0%, and by 2020, Lebanon imported approximately 4 336 tonnes of paper and paperboard waste, up 10,795.5% year-over-year. The gap between the 2018 low and 2020 high was 252 262-fold.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Cyprus dominated the partner structure of imports in kind, consistently representing 98.2% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 0.0 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline of 100.0% that year. In 2019, imports jumped by 174,826.2%, and by 2020, Lebanon imported a total of 335.9 thousand US dollars of paper and paperboard waste, indicating a steep advance of 3,100.8% year-over-year. The swing from the 2018 low to the 2020 peak was 55 990 times.

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

In 2017-2020, Cyprus was the nearly exclusive supplier of paper and paperboard waste to Lebanon, accounting for 94.7% of total imports in value terms.

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

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