U.S. Newsprint Market Bounces Back Slightly, Reaching $1.3B

IndexBox has just published a new report: 'U.S. - Newsprint - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights'. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

In 2021, the U.S. newsprint market increased by 5.5% to $1.3B. Despite that growth, the long-term trend remains downward. Over the past decade, the market has declined twofold under the pressure of rapidly developing digital media. 

Newsprint Production in the U.S.

Newsprint production amounted to $1.1B in 2021. Overall, production, however, continues to decline. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2011 when the production volume increased by 20% against the previous year. Newsprint production peaked at $4.2B in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2021, production failed to regain the momentum. 

U.S. Newsprint Exports 

In 2021, the amount of newsprint exported from the United States soared to 120K tons, increasing by 74% compared with the year before. Overall, exports, however, continue to indicate a abrupt downturn. Over the period under review, exports reached the peak figure at 909K tons in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2021, exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, newsprint exports soared to $69M in 2021. Over the period under review, exports, however, saw a deep setback. Over the period under review, exports attained the peak figure at $609M in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2021, exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

Mexico (30K tons), Canada (23K tons) and Guatemala (2.3K tons) were the main destinations of newsprint exports from the United States, with a combined 81% share of total supplies.

In value terms, the largest markets for newsprint exported from the United States were Mexico ($16M), Canada ($15M) and Costa Rica ($895K), with a combined 85% share of total exports.

In terms of the main countries of destination, Canada recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced a decline.

Export Prices by Country

In 2020, the average newsprint export price amounted to $539 per ton, shrinking by -4.9% against the previous year. There were significant differences in the average prices for the major export markets. In 2020, the country with the highest price was Canada ($634 per ton), while the average price for exports to India ($341 per ton) was amongst the lowest. From 2007 to 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Canada, while the prices for the other major destinations experienced a decline.

U.S. Newsprint Imports

In 2021, supplies from abroad of newsprint was finally on the rise to reach 1.1M tons for the first time since 2013, thus ending a seven-year declining trend. Overall, imports, however, continue to indicate a deep downturn. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 with an increase of 1.9% y-o-y. Imports peaked at 4.1M tons in 2007; however, from 2008 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, newsprint imports rose significantly to $621M in 2021. In general, imports, however, saw a deep reduction. Imports peaked at $2.5B in 2007; however, from 2008 to 2021, imports failed to regain the momentum.

Imports by Country

In 2020, Canada (1M tons) was the main newsprint supplier to the United States, with a approx. 100% share of total imports. In value terms, Canada ($563M) constituted the largest supplier of newsprint to the United States. From 2007 to 2020, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value from Canada totaled -10.7%.

Import Prices by Country

In 2020, the average newsprint import price amounted to $541 per ton, shrinking by -14.3% against the previous year. As there is only one major supplying country, the average price level is determined by prices for Canada. From 2007 to 2020, the rate of growth in terms of prices for Canada amounted to -0.9% per year.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform