The following summary of U.S. scrap paper exports originally appeared in the April 14 edition of ISRI’s Weekly Market Report:
■ U.S. recyclable paper exports in February 2022 decreased 3.6% to 1,257,012 mt from January 2022.
■ Comparing February 2022 and February 2021, U.S. exports of recyclable paper were up 3.2% by volume (metric tons).
■ Year-to-date—January-February 2022 versus January-February 2021—the value of U.S. scrap paper exports increased 18.3% (to $563.5 million) while the volume increased 1.9% (to 2,561,306 mt).
■ The top 10 countries receiving U.S. recyclable paper exports in January-February 2022 accounted for 91.4% of exports, 1.8 percentage points higher from their share a year ago. The top 10’s share continues to decrease from their five-year full-year high of 96.2% in 2016, indicating the adjustment exporters have been making in finding new overseas markets for recyclable paper.
■ India imported the most U.S. scrap paper—695,617 mt—in January-February 2022, down 1.9% from the same period a year ago. Mexico was second, importing 352,341 mt, 23.1% more tonnage. Malaysia received 30.3% more U.S. scrap paper—the biggest percentage increase of any country in the top 10.
■ The same top 10 countries, ranked by January-February 2022 exports, are the same countries in the top 10 for the full year 2021, just the order has changed.
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