Paper and paperboard waste market Ukraine

Earlier Report Observations

The volume of Ukraine's paper and paperboard waste market declined from 1.1 million tons in 2018 to 888,500 tons in 2023, primarily due to a sharp drop in imports. This reduction in import dependency was facilitated by regulatory changes that exempted waste collectors from licensing and VAT, encouraging new recycling enterprises to enter the market and invest in processing capacity.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted global logistics and tightened supply, raising the cost of waste paper. This, combined with broader global increases in raw material prices, pushed the market's value upward, peaking at $311.1 million in 2022 despite lower physical volume. High demand for corrugated packaging and eco-friendly products supported ongoing consumption.

By 2022, the domestic collection system for waste paper had developed sufficiently to cover local demand for pulp production, but falling imports continued to shrink total market volume. Production remained steady at 725,000 tons annually through 2023, while import volumes nearly halved from 392,300 tons in 2018 to 156,100 tons in 2024.

Production paper and paperboard waste Ukraine

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of paper and paperboard waste, 2017-2020

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

Ukraine's production of paper and paperboard waste remained relatively stable in 2020, reaching 725.0 thousand tons. The most significant change occurred in 2018, with both the largest decline and increase recorded at 0.0%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Ukraine's paper and paperboard waste production increased for the third consecutive year in 2020, valued at 222.4 million US dollars, representing a 3.4% year-over-year gain. From 2017 to 2020, production grew by 26.5%, with an annualized growth rate of 8.1%.

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

Exports paper and paperboard waste to Ukraine

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Ukraine exported 10.1 thousand tons of paper and paperboard waste, showing a slight decrease of 1.4% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 17.5%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 6.2%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 8.9 thousand tons, with the largest decline of 27.3% that year, followed by the largest increase of 15.0% in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's exports to Ukraine in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for Ukraine's paper and paperboard waste exports in volume terms were Austria (30.5% of exports), the Netherlands (23.3%), and Germany (21.2%), together accounting for 75.0% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports to Ukraine in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Ukraine's paper and paperboard waste exports increased in value for the second consecutive year in 2020, amounting to 3 087 thousand US dollars, a 2.0% improvement over the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 4.4%, with an annualized rate of 1.4%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 2 342 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline of 20.8% that year, followed by the largest increase of 29.3% in 2019.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, Austria (32.4% of exports in value terms), the Netherlands (25.0%), and Germany (22.6%) formed the key group of partners for Ukraine's paper and paperboard waste exports, jointly representing 80.0% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports to Ukraine in value, 2017-2020

Imports paper and paperboard waste in Ukraine

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Ukraine's paper and paperboard waste imports reached 310.8 thousand tons, showing a modest advance of 6.9% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 10.3%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 3.6%. The minimum import volume was recorded in 2019 at 290.7 thousand tons, while the maximum was in 2018 at 392.3 thousand tons. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 25.9%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 13.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Russia (39.6% of imports in volume terms), Poland (26.8%), and Slovakia (8.7%) consistently remained the main sources for Ukraine's paper and paperboard waste imports, together accounting for 75.1% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Ukraine's paper and paperboard waste imports declined in value for the second consecutive year in 2020, totaling 48 271 thousand US dollars, a drop of 6.9% compared to the previous year. Over the period 2017-2020, imports decreased by 31.1%, with an annualized decline of 11.7%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 76 637 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline of 32.4% in 2019 and the largest increase of 9.4% in 2018.

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

Over 2017–2020, Russia (44.4% of imports in value terms), Poland (25.3%), and Slovakia (7.5%) consistently occupied leading positions in Ukraine's paper and paperboard waste import structure, jointly accounting for 77.2% of total import flows.

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

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