Less recovered paper was shipped from the European Union in the first half of 2022 than at any other time in nearly 20 years. At the same time, the EU was importing increasing volumes of recovered paper from third countries (non-EU states). The latest data published by the European statistical office Eurostat is consistent with the market climate described by insiders in EUWID monthly surveys, including strong demand for recovered paper from European paper mills in the first half of the year.
According to Eurostat, the 27 EU member states exported a total of 2.0 million tonnes of recovered paper to third countries between January and June. This figure was down 246,000 tonnes or 11 per cent compared with last year and represented the lowest six-month level since 2003. Conversely, recovered paper imports into the EU jumped by 15 per cent to 1.3 million tonnes. While the EU remains a net exporter of recovered paper, the net export balance has never been this low since data collection began in 1999....
