These are the latest HMRC export figures for May 2024 for key paper and cardboard grades. Only destinations of more than 1,000 tonnes per month are included.
OCC – Commodity code 470710
Exports of OCC to the majority of deep sea destinations in May saw figures drop significantly compared to April, seeing a total of 179,220 tonnes departing UK shores, compared to 207,088 in April.
In contrast to April, Turkey saw a significant decrease in materials received, compared with May totals, with 22,539 tonnes registered for May compared to 64,732 tonnes in April.
Vietnam continued to record an upwards trend up from 27,363 tonnes in March to 30,524 tonnes in April and registering 44,047 for May.
India saw figures recovering in May, registering 17,976 tonnes of materials received, illustrating an improvement up from 6,868 tonnes in April.
Destinations across Europe remained steady across the board, although France and Spain registered a decrease in the materials received from UK shores.
| May 2024 | April 2024 | May 2023 | |
| Vietnam | 44,047 | 30,524 | 15,127 |
| Malaysia | 42,023 | 45,330 | 39,033 |
| Turkey | 22,539 | 64,732 | 17,363 |
| India | 17,976 | 6,868 | 38,528 |
| Germany | 14,928 | 13,619 | 17,373 |
| Thailand | 8,899 | 11,196 | 6,929 |
| Indonesia | 8,610 | 15,381 | 39,120 |
| Netherlands | 7,399 | 7,172 | 4,677 |
| Taiwan | 4,572 | 699 | 1,211 |
| Belgium | 2,594 | 2,794 | 1,849 |
| France | 2,385 | 4,766 | 4,988 |
| Spain | 1,870 | 2,209 | 584 |
Mixed paper – Commodity code 470790
Exports of mixed paper during May are significantly down again, registering the lowest figures so far in 2024. A total of 81,591 tonnes departed from UK shores, compared with 157,388 tonnes in March (the strongest month of 2024 to date).
India remained the dominant destination for mixed paper exports in April 2024, despite registering another decrease of tonnage (month on month), bringing the total exported to 34,194 tonnes, compared with 36,030 tonnes in April.
Exports to Germany continue to increase gradually, registering 10,779 tonnes, slightly up from 9,059 in April. The rest of the European market remains steady.
| May 2024 | April 2024 | May 2023 | |
| India | 34,194 | 36,030 | 67,737 |
| Netherlands | 12,141 | 14,898 | 8,842 |
| Germany | 10,779 | 9,059 | 8,564 |
| France | 6,697 | 6,614 | 1,745 |
| Indonesia | 5,640 | 4,566 | 6,148 |
| Vietnam | 4,504 | 9,782 | 19,673 |
| Spain | 2,789 | 3,621 | 598 |
| Belgium | 1,854 | 1,325 | 1,210 |
| Malaysia | 1,063 | 5,283 | 1,547 |
News & Pams – Commodity code 470730
Exports of this grade have seen an increase in materials leaving UK shores in May, compared to April. Registering a total of 12,852 tonnes that left the UK in May, compared with 10,179 in April.
India has seen a slight recovery, with an increase in materials departing UK shores, registering 2,893 tonnes in May, which is up on April’s figure of 1,131 tonnes.
Germany continues to chart an upwards trend, registering 4,194 which is significantly up on the previous year where May 2023 saw a total of 1,610 tonnes registered.
| May 2024 | April 2024 | May 2023 | |
| Germany | 4,194 | 2,929 | 1,610 |
| India | 2,893 | 1,131 | 9,914 |
| Netherlands | 2,593 | 2,955 | 704 |
| Belgium | 1,356 | 1,257 | 449 |
