Udeesha Tomar
AVP - Strategy and Solutions
Leading procurement research solutions across chemicals, materials, and food & beverages, with expertise in price forecasting and market analytics.
Paper Scrap Price Trend Analysis 2026: Supply Demand Analysis, Price Drivers, Latest News, Market Insights & Historical Prices
Written ByUdeesha Tomar
Paper Scrap Price Trend 2025
In 2025, paper scrap prices experienced a mixed and generally downward trend. Early in the year, both domestic and export markets saw lower prices compared with the highs of 2024.
The supply of recycled fibre remained limited due to weak collection rates and lower volumes of office and newsprint paper, especially as office vacancy rates stayed high. Residential recycling capture also stayed below expected levels, which further constrained available material.
On the demand side, U.S. mills slowed their intake, influenced by multiple mill closures and cautious buyers. Some large producers shut down containerboard and coated paper plants, reducing overall production capacity. Meanwhile, European consumption of recovered paper increased slightly, helping offset some of the supply pressures, but not enough to boost prices significantly. Export markets, especially in Asia, were uncertain due to new import regulations that disrupted old corrugated cardboard trade, adding volatility and limiting demand.
Overall, the combination of constrained supply, slower domestic demand, and unstable export markets kept paper scrap prices at low levels for much of 2025. Even though some stability appeared mid-year, prices remained subdued compared with previous peaks, reflecting ongoing challenges in both collection and consumption.
Analyst Insight
According to Procurement Resource, Paper Scrap prices are expected to stay relatively low in the near term, but gradual improvements in collection rates and recycling infrastructure could support a modest recovery.
Need Latest Paper Scrap Prices?
Get real-time price assessments, periodic trends, forecasts and price driver insights across key global markets.
Our Clients
Procurement Resource Database
Turn price intelligence into action with the Procurement Resource Database. Log in or subscribe to unlock live price trends, historical charts, supplier databases, cost curves, and analyst-backed insights across chemicals, agriculture, energy, packaging, and more. Use these tools to benchmark your contracts, plan budgets with confidence, and stay ahead of market moves on every product you buy.
0
+Products
0
+Regions
0
+Subscriptions
In the second half of 2024, paper scrap prices generally declined. Old corrugated containers (OCC) saw the biggest drop, while mixed paper and higher-grade materials were more stable. In the UK, tight supply of medium and higher grades helped keep their prices steady, but lower grades faced weaker demand and falling quotes.
Seasonal challenges also affected the market. During the wet winter months, contamination in recycling increased significantly as cardboard became damp and mixed with plastics, reducing the quality of recovered paper. This led to more waste being sent to landfill or incineration, further limiting available material for mills.
The changes in how recycling rates were calculated in the U.S. also reflected broader challenges for the recovered paper market. New methodologies showed that actual collection and recycling volumes were lower than previously thought, suggesting that less high-quality scrap was available. These factors, combined with soft export demand and limited domestic collection, contributed to weaker prices for the latter half of the year.
About Paper Scrap
Paper scraps are discarded and unused paper pieces that could be derived from a wide variety of paper-based items such as newspapers, magazines, office paper, cardboard, packaging materials, and other printed materials. Paper scrap can be generated from households, businesses, industries, and institutions when paper products reach the end of their useful life or become obsolete. Recycling and repurposing paper scrap is a common practice to reduce waste, conserve resources, and produce new paper products, contributing to environmentally sustainable practices.
Paper Scrap Product Detail
HS Code
47073090
Industrial Uses
Paper and cardboard production, Art and craft, Insulation material, Molded pulp products, Pulp and paper mills, Cellulose based products
Supplier Database
Cascades Recovery, Global Waste Recyclers Ltd, International Paper, Perlen Papier AG, Sonoco Products Company, ST Paper Resources PTE LTD
Regional Coverage
Asia Pacific
China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Iran, Thailand, South Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, UAE, Israel, Hongkong, Singapore, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Australia, and New Zealand
Europe
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy,Spain, Russia, Turkey, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Ireland Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Finland, Czech Republic, Portugal and Greece
North America
United States and Canada
Latin America
Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru
Africa
South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco
CurrencyUS$ (Data can also be provided in local currency)
Supplier Database AvailabilityYes
Customization ScopeThe report can be customized as per the requirements of the customer
Post-Sale Analyst Support360-degree analyst support after report delivery
Note: Our supplier search experts can assist your procurement teams in compiling and validating a list of suppliers indicating they have products, services, and capabilities that meet your company's needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Paper scrap prices are expected to remain relatively low in the near term, weighed down by weak collection rates, high office vacancy reducing office and newsprint volumes, and U.S. mill closures that have slowed domestic intake. New Asian import regulations disrupting old corrugated cardboard trade add further uncertainty to export demand. However, gradual improvements in collection rates and recycling infrastructure could support a modest recovery if supply tightens and European consumption continues to offset some pressure.
Paper scrap prices are shaped by four key drivers. Weak collection rates and high office vacancy reduce the supply of recycled fibre, constraining available material and keeping prices subdued. U.S. mill closures and plant shutdowns, including containerboard and coated paper facilities, cut domestic scrap intake, weakening demand. New Asian import regulations disrupt old corrugated cardboard trade flows, adding volatility and limiting export market access. A modest uptick in European recovered paper consumption provides partial offset but is insufficient to lift prices significantly.
Major players include Cascades Recovery, Waste Management, Republic Services, Veolia, and ST Paper Resources PTE LTD. The United States and Europe are the primary producing and exporting regions, while Asia, led by China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, represents the dominant consuming and importing bloc. Supply concentration risk is elevated, as U.S. mill closures and Asian import regulation shifts have simultaneously tightened domestic supply and disrupted export flows.
Paper scrap originates as post-consumer or post industrial waste from households, businesses, and institutions, sourced from newspapers, magazines, office paper, cardboard, and packaging materials. The value chain begins with collection and sorting by grade and contaminant level at recycling facilities. Sorted material is pulped with water and chemicals to break down fibres, followed by de-inking and cleaning to remove inks, adhesives, and impurities.
Paper scrap is consumed by paper and cardboard production, pulp and paper mills, molded pulp products, insulation material, and cellulose-based products. U.S. mills slow their intake as large producers shut down containerboard and coated paper plants, directly weakening domestic demand. European consumption of recovered paper rises slightly, offering partial offset, but Asian import regulations disrupt old corrugated cardboard trade and limit export demand. The combination of reduced mill activity and unstable export markets keeps prices subdued.
Converting costs affect paper scrap pricing indirectly, mainly through how mills decide to run. When converting costs such as energy, adhesives, ink, labour, and freight climb, mills raise their break-even intake price for recovered fibre. However, weaker office and newsprint collection rates constrain available scrap, while mill closures and cautious buying keep intake subdued. As a result, scrap prices stay low, meaning converting-cost relief at downstream mills does not translate into higher scrap bids. Demand-side caution offsets any input-cost support, keeping prices subdued.
Procurement Resource assesses paper scrap prices through a structured, data-driven methodology combining primary engagement with producers, suppliers and traders, secondary market data, monitoring of feedstock and input-costs, trade-flow and inventory tracking, and exchange or spot benchmarks. All inputs are validated and translated into a transparent price assessment and outlook. The detailed methodology is available on the Procurement Resource website.
Our Price Analysis Methodology
About the Author
Schedule A Demo
Experience how Procurement Resource transforms raw material price data into clear, decision ready intelligence. Optimise your performance with reliable, expert market data and analysis. Schedule your demo today to experience a live walk-through where our experts will showcase interactive price charts, forecasted prices, and insights driving the prices for your key commodities, tailored to your workflows. Contact us now!
Our Team will be happy to assist you
We are just a text away
Still Need Help?
Unlock full access to Procurement Resource's price databases, interactive charts, and short-term forecasts for thousands of commodities. Elevate your sourcing decisions by comparing prices across regions, downloading historical data, and layering in analyst-backed insights, all with our flexible plans that scale as your portfolio grows.
Still have any Questions
Contact Us
Price Trend Dashboard - What's Included
Price trends across a diverse portfolio of categories and products, spanning board to niche chemicals
Coverage extendable to grade-specific chemicals based on procurement requirements
Regular price tracking supported by robust historical datasets
News, policy updates, and key market drivers impacting price movements
Short-term and long-term price outlooks and forecasts
Supply–demand dynamics and capacity-driven market analysis
Why Procurement Database
Commodity Market Intelligence
Track prices, market movements, supply-demand dynamics, and industry developments across hundreds of commodities through a centralized intelligence platform built for informed procurement decisions.
Price Forecasts & Market Outlooks
Understand market fluctuations using analyst-backed forecasts, historical pricing patterns, and evolving industry trends to strengthen sourcing strategies and budget planning.
Cost & Procurement Optimization
Leverage cost models, pricing benchmarks, and procurement insights to evaluate purchasing opportunities, improve negotiations, and enhance operational efficiency.
Global & Regional Market Insights
Access region-specific price trends, trade activities, capacity changes, and supply chain developments influencing commodity markets worldwide.
1/4