UK fibre exports surge in 2015

United Kingdom – UK exports of recovered paper are on course to record one of their highest-ever totals in 2015.

Latest figures from the Confederation of Paper Industries and HM Revenue & Customs reveal that overseas shipments amounted to 3.625 million tonnes in the opening three quarters of this year. This represents an increase of almost 8% over the 3.363 million tonnes shipped out in the corresponding period of 2014.

If the momentum were to be maintained throughout the final quarter, it is possible that UK exports will threaten the all-time high of 4.847 million tonnes dispatched overseas in 2008 or, perhaps more realistically, the second-highest total ever posted of 4.658 million tonnes in 2007.

In the first nine months of 2015, UK mixed & mechanical exports were 2.2% higher year on year at 1.471 million tonnes while corrugated & kraft shipments enjoyed growth of almost 10% to 2.021 million tonnes. Most spectacular of all, however, was the 58.6% surge in exports of the high grades to 132 762 tonnes.

This performance was achieved despite the fact that UK recovered paper collections fell 2.4% across the first three quarters of 2015 to 5.907 million tonnes. Consumption by domestic mills slid 10.6% to 2.496 million tonnes.