These are the latest HMRC export figures for May 2025 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 continued to see a decrease in waste exports departing UK shores.
A total of 204,709 tonnes were exported in May, down from 215,014 tonnes in April.
Turkey once again took the top spot for materials departing the UK with 65,714 tonnes in May, which is up again compared to April when 61,302 tonnes were registered.
Destinations in the majority of Far East destinations continued to see a sharp decline in tonnage.
In contrast, destinations across Europe remained steady overall, with most destinations registering increases.
| May 2025 | April 2025 | May 2024 | |
| Turkey | 65,714 | 61,302 | 22,539 |
| India | 46,694 | 54,451 | 17,976 |
| Malaysia | 27,980 | 34,667 | 42,023 |
| Germany | 18,970 | 12,994 | 14,928 |
| Netherlands | 16,241 | 12,825 | 7,399 |
| France | 7,955 | 6,578 | 2,385 |
| Thailand | 6,931 | 7,380 | 8,899 |
| Indonesia | 3,423 | 6,725 | 8,610 |
| Spain | 2,960 | 2,789 | 1,870 |
| Belgium | 2,896 | 3,111 | 2,594 |
| Vietnam | 1,628 | 9,283 | 44,047 |
| Pakistan | 1,496 | 936 | 112 |
| Poland | 1,070 | 1,238 | 986 |
Mixed paper – Commodity code 470790
Exports of mixed paper saw an increase in May – with a total of 89,715 tonnes departing from UK shores, compared with 76,206 tonnes in April.
India continued to remain the dominant destination for mixed paper exports in May 2025, and this month saw an increase in tonnage, with 36,941 tonnes received in May compared to 34,433 tonnes in April.
In Europe, the Netherlands dominated and saw a significant increase in material received in May, registering 18,988 tonnes, compared to 10,926 in April.
Exports to France continued to bounce back, registering 7,144 tonnes in May compared to 6,947 tonnes the previous month.
Otherwise in Europe, mixed paper exports registered a relatively stable picture.
| May 2025 | April 2025 | May 2024 | |
| India | 36,941 | 34,433 | 34,194 |
| Netherlands | 18,988 | 10,926 | 12,141 |
| Germany | 15,978 | 9,043 | 10,779 |
| France | 7,144 | 6,947 | 6,697 |
| Spain | 2,973 | 2,987 | 2,789 |
| Belgium | 2,224 | 1,147 | 1,854 |
| Turkey | 1,540 | – | 366 |
News & Pams – Commodity code 470730
Exports of this grade saw an increase in tonnage leaving UK shores during May compared to April.
A total of 15,044 tonnes left the UK in May, an increase on exported material compared with 14,901 leaving the UK in April.
India continue to dominate, with a marginal increase month on month.
Europe destinations registered a stable picture overall with little notable changes.
| May 2025 | April 2025 | May 2024 | |
| India | 7,941 | 7,654 | 1,131 |
| Netherlands | 2,220 | 2,283 | 2,593 |
| Germany | 1,376 | 1,858 | 4,124 |
| Belgium | 2,197 | 1,743 | 1,356 |
