UK recovered paper exports near record

United Kingdom – Europe’s largest recovered fibre exporting nation was within touching distance of a record-high sales performance in 2016, according to latest data from the UK’s Confederation of Paper Industries and HM Revenue & Customs.

UK exports of recovered fibre were 1.5% higher year on year in the opening 11 months of 2016 at 4.482 million tonnes and were thus on track to threaten the full-year record established in 2015 of 4.88 million tonnes. Overseas shipments of mixed & mechanical and corrugated & kraft edged higher by, respectively, 1% to 1.836 million tonnes and 1.4% to 2.461 million tonnes whereas the ‘other’ grades segment enjoyed export growth of 9.9% to 184 426 tonnes.

Once again comparing January-November 2016 with the corresponding period of 2015, UK recovered paper collections dipped 0.4% to 7.417 million tonnes while usage by domestic mills dropped 9% to 2.784 million tonnes. UK recovered fibre imports tumbled more than 60% from a shade under 300 000 tonnes in January-November 2015 to less than 120 000 tonnes in the same period last year.