Folding Paperboard Box Market Overview in the USA

In 2019, after three years of growth, there was decline in the U.S. folding paperboard box market, when its value decreased by -% to $. In general, consumption showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2016 when the market value increased by % year-to-year. Folding paperboard box consumption peaked at $ in 2018, and then contracted in the following year.

In value terms, folding paperboard box production amounted to $ in 2019. Overall, production, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 with an increase of % against the previous year. Folding paperboard box production peaked in 2019 and is expected to retain growth in the near future.

In 2019, consumption of folding paperboard box decreased by -% to tonnes for the first time since 2015, thus ending a three-year rising trend. Over the period under review, consumption saw a pronounced downturn. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 when the consumption volume increased by % year-to-year. Over the period under review, consumption hit record highs at tonnes in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2019, consumption remained at a lower figure.

The size of the folding paperboard box market in the U.S. fell to $ in 2019, approximately equating the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, consumption recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2016 with an increase of % year-to-year. Over the period under review, the market reached the maximum level at $ in 2018, and then contracted in the following year.

Depressed by shrinking demand for folding paperboard box in the U.S., the market is expected to continue its downward consumption trend over the next decade. The performance of the market is forecast to contract with an anticipated CAGR of -% for the period from 2019 to , which is projected to depress the market volume to tonnes by the end of .

Over the period under review, the share of imports in terms of total folding paperboard box consumption in the U.S. was relatively small in physical terms, fluctuating under an % figure. In value terms the share of imports also stood at a low figure, which means that the the U.S. folding paperboard box market is largely supplied by domestic manufacturers.

The U.S. remains a net importer of folding paperboard box; in physical and value terms, imports consistently exceeded exports from 2013 to 2019. In 2019, there was a significant trade deficit of tonnes, which was equal to $. This tangible trade deficit reflects the fact that the market remains dependent on imports, which is likely to continue in the medium term.