US Paper, Paperboard Scrap Exports Recorded Marginal Jump

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The exports of paper, paperboard scrap by the country witnessed marginal increase during the initial eleven months of 2017, says the latest data published by the US Census Bureau. The combined exports edged higher by 2% during this period, when matched with the previous year. Meantime, imports surged higher by 42%.

According to Census Bureau data, the country exported $2.9 billion worth paper and paperboard scrap during Jan-Nov ’17. This is higher by nearly 2% when matched with the exports of $2.85 billion during the corresponding eleven month period in 2016. The full-year exports are likely to flatten out in 2017. It must be noted that the exports had totaled $3.13 billion during the entire year 2016.

The shipments to China, the top importer of US paper and paperboard scrap, witnessed a decline of nearly 9% during the above-mentioned period. The shipments to that country totaled 1.58 billion, representing nearly 55% of total exports by the US. India’s imports recorded sharp jump to total $328 million. The country accounted for over 11% market share of US exports. The Mexican imports totaled $322.5 million during this period, registering a modest year-on-year increase of over 17%. The other primary export destinations were South Korea ($154 million) and Canada ($145 million).

The combined imports by the above five destination counties totaled $2.53 billion out of the $2.9 billion. The shipments to the top five markets accounted for 87% of all shipments by the US during Jan-Nov ’17.

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Meantime, the US imports of paper and paperboard scrap surged higher considerably by 42% to total $141.98 million during the first eleven months of 2017. During the corresponding period in 2016, the country had recorded total imports amounting to just $100.17 million. The US had imported $110.37 million worth of paper and paperboard scrap during the whole of 2016, said US Census Bureau data.

The key supplier of paper and paperboard scrap to the US was Canada. The country supplied nearly 94% of the total US imports. The Canadian supplies were valued at $133.2 million, significantly higher by nearly 45% when matched with the previous year. Mexico’s shipments to the US totaled $8.2 million during Jan-Nov ’17. The other key exporters were China ($207,732), Nepal ($73,991) and South Korea ($69,521).