BIR Global eForum Debates Future of Recovered Fiber Markets

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The panelists at the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) Global eForum on paper markets expressed mixed feeling on the future of recovered paper markets.

Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, President, BIR Paper Division shared very optimistic view about the future. The rising challenges to plastics as a packaging option present immense opportunities for recovered paper to be used in packaging applications. On the other hand, Keith Trower of Viridor Resource Management stated that he has a pessimistic outlook, mainly due to the extremely low prices for the material.

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To support the optimistic outlook, BIR noted that more than 50% of worldwide paper and board production was from recovered fiber. Also, 70% of all Asian paper and board production was from recovered fiber. The above figures are with reference to annual recovered paper data for 2018, BIR said.

The panelists expressed concerns over export markets for recovered paper, especially when China has announced plans to stop recovered paper imports effective 2021. The exporting countries may find it difficult to find alternative markets for the regular Chinese intake, which is estimated at around 6 million tons per annum. Of late, some of the recovered paper exports to China have shifted to India and Indonesia.