UK recovered paper: collections same, exports down

United Kingdom – When comparing the first 11 months of 2017 with the same period in 2016, the UK’€™s recovered paper collection volumes were basically unchanged at around 7.15 million tonnes. However, domestic mills mopped up a larger proportion of the available fibre in upping their consumption by 3.8% from 2.784 million tonnes in January-November 2016 to 2.889 million tonnes in the same period last year.

UK paper and board production climbed 4.6% year on year to 3.544 million tonnes in the opening 11 months of 2017, with all sectors – including graphic papers – posting increases when viewed against the previous year’s corresponding period.

Europe’s leading exporter of recovered fibre shipped 4.361 million tonnes to other countries in January-November 2017 for a year-on-year decline of 2.7%; the mixed paper total slid 8.8% year on year to 1.338 million tonnes whereas OCC shipments edged 0.2% higher to 2.467 million tonnes.

It is worth noting that, across 2016 as a whole, the UK set a new recovered paper export record of 4.932 million tonnes.