Market research

Paper and paperboard waste market in Portugal

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The Portuguese market for paper and paperboard waste expanded significantly from 485.0 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 549.6 thousand tonnes in 2019. This growth was primarily driven by government-approved measures to incentivize recycling, such as waste-for-voucher programs, and the implementation of Decree-Law No. 152-D/2017, which reinforced producer responsibility for packaging waste management.

Following a contraction to 492.3 thousand tonnes in 2020, the market recovered to 544.4 thousand tonnes in 2021. This rebound aligned with the ongoing strengthening of extended producer responsibility frameworks, anticipating the Royal Decree 1055/2022. The formal publication of this decree in 2022 explicitly mandated manufacturer responsibility for packaging waste from collection to recovery, supporting market stability at 548.2 thousand tonnes that year.

The market volume decreased to 510.1 thousand tonnes in 2023. Throughout the period, the sector's recycling rate for paper and cardboard packaging consistently exceeded national targets, reaching 64.4% in 2022, though this high level also indicated a trend of stagnation within the recycling system.

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 Portugal
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Portugal in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Portugal 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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Portugal 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, 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, 2018-2025
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 Portugal

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

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

In 2021, Portugal produced 939.4 K t of paper and paperboard waste, marking a 5.0% increase from the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, production grew by 7.3%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.4%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, at 6.2%, while the most significant decline was in 2020, at 3.8%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	6.2%	(3.8%)	5.0%	2.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports paper and paperboard waste from Portugal

Exports in kind, K t

In 2021, Portugal exported 409.7 K t of paper and paperboard waste, showing a slight decline of 2.3% compared to 2020. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, exports decreased by 2.9%, with a CAGR of 1.0%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 408.1 K t, which also saw the largest decline of 3.3%. In contrast, the largest increase occurred in 2020, with a 2.7% rise.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.3%)	2.7%	(2.3%)	(1.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Spain, India, and Turkey remained the primary buyers of paper and paperboard waste from Portugal. Spain accounted for 61.5% of exports in kind, India for 12.2%, and Turkey for 11.7%. Together, these three countries represented 85.4% of Portugal's total exports in kind during this period.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

The market performance for paper and paperboard waste exports from Portugal showed noticeable fluctuations from 2018 to 2021. Exports bottomed in 2019 at 42 289 K $ US and peaked in 2021 at 82 190 K $ US, representing a 1.9-fold difference. In 2021, exports amounted to 82 190 K $ US, which is 88.9% higher than in 2020. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, at 30.0%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(30.0%)	2.9%	88.9%	10.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Spain, India, and Turkey formed the main cluster of markets for Portugal's paper and paperboard waste exports in value terms. Spain led with 65.1% of exports, followed by India at 12.3%, and Turkey at 7.4%. Combined, these three countries accounted for 84.8% of total export flows in value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports paper and paperboard waste to Portugal

Imports in kind, K t

Paper and paperboard waste imports into Portugal declined for the third consecutive year in 2021, reaching 14.7 K t, which is 10.9% lower than the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports decreased by 53.3%, with a CAGR of 22.4%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(12.6%)	(40.0%)	(10.9%)	(22.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2018 to 2021, Spain was the key partner for Portugal's imports of paper and paperboard waste in kind, accounting for 92.2% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year contraction, paper and paperboard waste imports into Portugal increased in 2021, reaching 4 218 K $ US, which is 42.9% higher than in 2020. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports decreased by 60.8%, with a CAGR of 26.8%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 2 952 K $ US, which also saw the largest decline of 62.1%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(27.5%)	(62.1%)	42.9%	(26.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2018 to 2021, Spain played the leading role in Portugal's imports of paper and paperboard waste in value terms, with a share of 83.8% of total flows. Other markets together accounted for the remaining portion.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io