Overall, the cost of paper imports increased by an average 18.4% for all importing countries since 2018 when international purchases of paper were valued at $179.3 billion.
Year over year, globally imported purchases of paper accelerated by 15.3% compared to $18.4 billion during 2021.
The biggest buyers of imported paper on international markets are the United States of America, Germany, France, United Kingdom and Italy. Collectively, those countries accounted for almost a third (31.9%) of imported paper purchased in 2022.
Paper is produced by pressing together moist cellulose pulp fibers derived from wood, grasses or rags, which is then dried into flexible sheets. There are many different types of paper and a myriad of uses encompassing currency, wrapping materials, containers, books, newspapers, magazines, note papers, toilet paper, paper towels, clothing plus many more varieties.
From a continental perspective, buyers in European countries spent the most on imported paper during 2022 with purchases costing $103 billion or 48.5% of the global total. In second place were Asian importers at 22.2% while another 17.5% of paper imported worldwide was delivered to customers in North America.
Smaller percentages arrived in Latin America (5.6%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (4.6%), then Oceania (1.6%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
For research purposes, the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 48 for paper.
Paper Imports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of paper during 2022.
- United States: US$22.4 billion (10.6% of total imported paper)
- Germany: $16 billion (7.5%)
- France: $11.1 billion (5.2%)
- United Kingdom: $9.4 billion (4.4%)
- Italy: $8.7 billion (4.1%)
- Mexico: $7.6 billion (3.6%)
- Canada: $7.15 billion (3.4%)
- Poland: $7.08 billion (3.3%)
- China: $6.98 billion (3.3%)
- Netherlands: $6.9 billion (3.2%)
- Belgium: $6 billion (2.8%)
- Spain: $5.2 billion (2.5%)
- Türkiye: $4.1 billion (1.9%)
- Vietnam: $3.7 billion (1.7%)
- India: $3.1 billion (1.5%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 59% of globally imported paper in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for paper since 2021 were: Türkiye (up 47.9%), India (up 43.9%), Italy (up 42.8%) and the United Kingdom (up 32.2%).
Mainland China recorded the lone decline in imported paper purchases, including a -21% reduction compared to 2021.
Paper Imported into the United States
America’s global purchases of imported paper totaled US$22.4 billion in 2022. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the US imported the highest dollar value worth of paper during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Canada: US$7.2 billion (up 17.5% from 2021)
- mainland China: $3.7 billion (up 22.5%)
- Mexico: $1.6 billion (up 23%)
- Germany: $1.4 billion (up 34.8%)
- Finland: $1.2 billion (up 33.4%)
- South Korea: $756.7 million (up 56.3%)
- Vietnam: $674.6 million (up 36.1%)
- Sweden: $612.8 million (up 56.1%)
- Italy: $481.6 million (up 38.4%)
- India: $476 million (up 66.6%)
- Indonesia: $469.8 million (up 59.5%)
- United Kingdom: $372.3 million (up 23.5%)
- Brazil: $340.6 million (up 57.9%)
- France: $340.2 million (up 10.3%)
- Taiwan: $324.7 million (up 32.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 89.1% of paper imported by the United States of America in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of paper to the United States since 2021 were: India (up 66.6%), Indonesia (up 59.5%), Brazil (up 57.9%) and South Korea (up 56.3%).
Posting the most modest gain in the value of their paper supplied to American importers was France (up 10.3% from 2021).
Overall, the value of America’s imported paper increased by an average 26.2% from all supplying countries since 2021 when paper purchased cost $17.8 billion.
Paper Imported into Germany
Germany’s global purchases of imported paper totaled US$16 billion in 2022. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Germany imported the highest dollar value worth of paper during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Poland: US$1.9 billion (up 14.6% from 2021)
- Sweden: $1.82 billion (up 2.5%)
- Austria: $1.77 billion (up 12.4%)
- France: $1.47 billion (up 16.2%)
- Finland: $1.43 billion (down -9.4%)
- Italy: $1.36 billion (up 23.1%)
- Netherlands: $1.2 billion (up 9.5%)
- Switzerland: $754.6 million (up 24.9%)
- mainland China: $733.5 million (up 25.5%)
- Czech Republic: $500.8 million (up 9.8%)
- Belgium: $478.5 million (up 14.9%)
- United Kingdom: $299.2 million (up 23.9%)
- Spain: $269.3 million (up 6.3%)
- Portugal: $244.9 million (up 19.6%)
- United States of America: $230.2 million (down -0.4%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 90.6% of paper imported by Germany in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of paper to Germany since 2021 were: mainland China (up 25.5%), Switzerland (up 24.9%), United Kingdom (up 23.9%) and Italy (up 23.1%).
A pair of major suppliers experienced declines in the value of their paper supplied to German importers, namely Finland (down -9.4% from 2021) and the United States of America (down -0.4%).
Overall, the value of Germany’s imported paper rose by an average 11.1% from all supplying countries since 2021 when paper purchased cost $14.4 billion.
Paper Imported into France
France’s global purchases of imported paper totaled US$11.1 billion in 2022. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which France imported the highest dollar value worth of paper during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Germany: US$2.6 billion (up 17.5% from 2021)
- Italy: $1.6 billion (up 17%)
- Spain: $1.3 billion (up 20%)
- Belgium: $799.7 million (up 12.2%)
- Netherlands: $607.4 million (up 7.5%)
- mainland China: $572.8 million (up 24.9%)
- Sweden: $511.9 million (up 11.8%)
- Finland: $426.4 million (up 13.3%)
- United Kingdom: $415.8 million (up 35.9%)
- Poland: $357.2 million (up 26.3%)
- Austria: $348.5 million (up 26.3%)
- Portugal: $343.6 million (up 48.8%)
- France: $138.3 million (up 52.5%)
- Türkiye: $125.6 million (up 43.5%)
- Luxembourg: $113.3 million (up 27.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 91.8% of paper imported by France in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of paper to France since 2021 were: France (up 52.5%), Portugal (up 48.8%), Türkiye (up 43.5%) and the United Kingdom (up 35.9%).
Providers in the Netherlands posted the most modest increase in the value of their paper supplied to French importers via a 7.5% upturn.
Overall, the value of France’s imported paper gained an average 19.2% from all supplying countries since 2021 when paper purchased cost $9.3 billion.
Paper Imported into the UK
Mainland China’s global purchases of imported paper totaled US$9.4 billion in 2022. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of paper during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Germany: US$1.5 billion (up 38.4% from 2021)
- mainland China: $1.1 billion (up 19.6%)
- Sweden: $823.2 million (up 31.8%)
- Finland: $686.1 million (up 23.3%)
- Italy: $606.3 million (up 30.8%)
- Netherlands: $556.7 million (up 36.6%)
- France: $526.8 million (up 21.3%)
- Türkiye: $401.2 million (up 41.2%)
- Poland: $346.7 million (up 36%)
- United States of America: $301.5 million (up 11%)
- Spain: $300.4 million (up 36.4%)
- Belgium: $255 million (up 17.7%)
- Austria: $251.5 million (up 60.1%)
- Portugal: $241.2 million (up 64%)
- Ireland: $174.1 million (up 21.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 85.9% of paper imported by the United Kingdom in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of paper to the UK since 2021 were: Portugal (up 64%), Austria (up 60.1%), Türkiye (up 41.2%) and Germany (up 38.4%).
Providers in the United States experienced the most modest increase in the value of their paper supplied to UK importers via an 11% increase compared to 2021.
Overall, the value of the United Kingdom’s imported paper rose by an average 32.2% from all supplying countries since 2021 when paper purchased cost $7.1 billion.
Searchable List of Paper Importers in 2022
The 100 importing nations buying paper in 2022 accounted for 97.6% of all purchases of the commodity.
| Rank | Importer | Paper Imports | 2021-2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | United States | $22,401,739,000 | +26.2% |
| 2. | Germany | $15,992,911,000 | +11.1% |
| 3. | France | $11,106,173,000 | +19.2% |
| 4. | United Kingdom | $9,401,190,000 | +32.2% |
| 5. | Italy | $8,740,216,000 | +42.8% |
| 6. | Mexico | $7,566,614,000 | +21.7% |
| 7. | Canada | $7,147,930,000 | +19.5% |
| 8. | Poland | $7,079,543,000 | +13.4% |
| 9. | China | $6,978,837,000 | -21% |
| 10. | Netherlands | $6,885,446,000 | +8.3% |
| 11. | Belgium | $5,991,795,000 | +9.1% |
| 12. | Spain | $5,249,029,000 | +19.6% |
| 13. | Türkiye | $4,055,261,000 | +47.9% |
| 14. | Vietnam | $3,664,586,000 | +21.8% |
| 15. | India | $3,096,020,000 | +43.9% |
| 16. | Czech Republic | $2,973,014,000 | +15.1% |
| 17. | Japan | $2,920,807,000 | -1.3% |
| 18. | Austria | $2,811,359,000 | +12.6% |
| 19. | Switzerland | $2,634,177,000 | +14.5% |
| 20. | Australia | $2,309,823,000 | +9.1% |
| 21. | South Korea | $2,257,649,000 | +1.4% |
| 22. | United Arab Emirates | $2,191,283,000 | +44.8% |
| 23. | Thailand | $2,038,418,000 | +8.4% |
| 24. | Russia | $2,028,247,000 | -25% |
| 25. | Malaysia | $2,019,739,000 | +0% |
| 26. | Hungary | $2,009,446,000 | +17.1% |
| 27. | Sweden | $1,989,322,000 | +13.2% |
| 28. | Taiwan | $1,821,369,000 | +3.7% |
| 29. | Indonesia | $1,794,772,000 | +17.4% |
| 30. | Saudi Arabia | $1,700,071,000 | +6.1% |
| 31. | Portugal | $1,693,734,000 | +18.7% |
| 32. | Romania | $1,681,322,000 | +18.8% |
| 33. | Denmark | $1,663,977,000 | -0.6% |
| 34. | Greece | $1,601,966,000 | +31.1% |
| 35. | Philippines | $1,536,673,000 | +14.5% |
| 36. | Chile | $1,496,086,000 | +57.1% |
| 37. | Egypt | $1,410,737,000 | +29.4% |
| 38. | Ireland | $1,397,244,000 | +22.3% |
| 39. | Hong Kong | $1,386,736,000 | -8.5% |
| 40. | Singapore | $1,283,280,000 | -19.4% |
| 41. | South Africa | $1,253,015,000 | +30.8% |
| 42. | Guatemala | $1,180,825,000 | +45.4% |
| 43. | Colombia | $1,142,806,000 | +61.4% |
| 44. | Morocco | $1,122,204,000 | +32.8% |
| 45. | Israel | $1,078,616,000 | +32.7% |
| 46. | Peru | $1,076,004,000 | +71.5% |
| 47. | Slovakia | $1,047,208,000 | +11.7% |
| 48. | Norway | $1,039,847,000 | +5.2% |
| 49. | Costa Rica | $907,323,000 | +23.8% |
| 50. | Bangladesh | $901,152,000 | +7.4% |
| 51. | Brazil | $899,840,000 | +10% |
| 52. | Argentina | $892,559,000 | +19% |
| 53. | Nigeria | $874,342,000 | +26.2% |
| 54. | Bulgaria | $852,595,000 | +29% |
| 55. | Dominican Republic | $850,361,000 | +18.1% |
| 56. | Serbia | $836,455,000 | +22% |
| 57. | Algeria | $817,631,000 | +14.7% |
| 58. | New Zealand | $783,508,000 | -2.1% |
| 59. | Croatia | $762,844,000 | +27% |
| 60. | Lithuania | $725,974,000 | +11.7% |
| 61. | Slovenia | $676,469,000 | +15.2% |
| 62. | Finland | $675,059,000 | +2% |
| 63. | Ukraine | $639,958,000 | -31.1% |
| 64. | Cambodia | $617,428,000 | -2% |
| 65. | Luxembourg | $613,890,000 | +22.8% |
| 66. | Kazakhstan | $600,993,000 | +13.8% |
| 67. | Pakistan | $573,932,000 | +7% |
| 68. | Iraq | $521,806,000 | -10.8% |
| 69. | Ecuador | $504,141,000 | +61.1% |
| 70. | Kenya | $488,927,000 | +17.6% |
| 71. | Honduras | $474,804,000 | +56.2% |
| 72. | El Salvador | $456,558,000 | +24.3% |
| 73. | Sri Lanka | $450,371,000 | -7.5% |
| 74. | Latvia | $434,272,000 | +13.2% |
| 75. | Tunisia | $430,826,000 | +48.1% |
| 76. | Uzbekistan | $390,468,000 | +29.9% |
| 77. | Estonia | $334,470,000 | +11.9% |
| 78. | Panama | $329,002,000 | +21% |
| 79. | Jordan | $323,973,000 | +3.1% |
| 80. | Iran | $286,540,000 | -64.4% |
| 81. | Ivory Coast | $273,162,000 | +17.1% |
| 82. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $272,679,000 | +18.1% |
| 83. | Myanmar | $272,041,000 | +71.9% |
| 84. | Paraguay | $257,524,000 | +20.3% |
| 85. | Azerbaijan | $253,322,000 | +27.8% |
| 86. | Nicaragua | $253,251,000 | +15.9% |
| 87. | Ghana | $248,380,000 | -7.6% |
| 88. | Angola | $240,170,000 | +69.8% |
| 89. | Kuwait | $234,430,000 | -34.9% |
| 90. | Qatar | $231,817,000 | +52.1% |
| 91. | Belarus | $225,230,000 | -63.2% |
| 92. | Lebanon | $222,091,000 | +48.2% |
| 93. | Uruguay | $189,454,000 | +21.5% |
| 94. | Tanzania | $188,840,000 | +37.4% |
| 95. | Georgia | $170,945,000 | +40.2% |
| 96. | Trinidad/Tobago | $164,884,000 | +49% |
| 97. | Albania | $163,694,000 | +22.5% |
| 98. | North Macedonia | $162,902,000 | +21.8% |
| 99. | Ethiopia | $157,800,000 | +21.7% |
| 100. | Bolivia | $157,759,000 | +31.8% |
Focusing on these 100 major buyer countries, the fastest gainers were Myanmar (up 71.9% from 2021), Peru (up 71.5%), Angola (up 69.8%), Colombia (up 61.4%), Ecuador (up 61.1%), Chile (up 57.1%) then the Honduras (up 56.2%).
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the above table’s columns. An entry of 0% in the right-most column means that 2021 data was unavailable.
See also Paper Exports by Country, Top Newsprint Exports by Country, Top Toilet Paper Exporters by Country and Sawn Wood Exports by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on September 18, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 18, 2023
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on September 18, 2023
Wikipedia, Paper. Accessed on September 18, 2023
