U.S. Recovered Paper Exports Collapsed in December

However, China continued to remain as the largest importer of U.S. recovered fiber exports.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The newly released trade data by the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that recovered fiber exports by the country collapsed during the previous year. The Census Bureau has published a full-year analysis of recovered commodity exports on 5^th February.

According to data, the U.S. recovered fiber exports totalled 15.9 million short tons in 2020, which is down significantly from the 2019 exports of 18.3 million short tons. The export volume touched the lowest level since 2003. When compared to 2016, when China and other countries imposed restrictions on imports, the volumes have collapsed by almost 27%.

How to Recycle Cardboard-and Why It's Important in the Era of Covid-19

However, China continued to remain as the largest importer of U.S. recovered fiber exports. The country imported 4.8 million short tons in 2020, significantly down from 5.9 million short tons imported during 2019.

The move by Chinese administration to ban recovered fiber imports in 2021 has resulted in notable decline in monthly import volumes. The import volumes, which peaked to 654,000 tons, dipped to 427,000 tons in the opening month of the current year. The Asian country has been gradually and steadily reducing its import permit approvals since last year.

The other key export destinations were India (2.4 million short tons), Mexico (1.5 million short tons) and Vietnam (1.4 million short tons).