Europe: Wood Box Market 2023

Wood Box Market Size in Europe

After two years of growth, the Europe wood box market decreased by -5.1% to $X in 2021. The total consumption indicated modest growth from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +1.2% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, consumption increased by +14.0% against 2018 indices. Over the period under review, the market reached the maximum level at $X in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2021, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Wood Box Production in Europe

In value terms, wood box production skyrocketed to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. The total output value increased at an average annual rate of +3.1% over the period from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations being recorded in certain years. As a result, production attained the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Wood Box Exports

Exports in Europe

In 2021, overseas shipments of cases, boxes, crates, drums and similar packings of wood increased by 26% to X units, rising for the third year in a row after two years of decline. In general, exports enjoyed buoyant growth. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 when exports increased by 93%. Over the period under review, the exports reached the peak figure in 2021 and are likely to see gradual growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, wood box exports soared to $X in 2021. Total exports indicated a prominent increase from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +6.9% over the last nine years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, the exports attained the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Exports by Country

In 2021, Poland (X units), followed by Spain (X units), the Czech Republic (X units), Germany (X units), France (X units), Belgium (X units) and Italy (X units) were the main exporters of cases, boxes, crates, drums and similar packings of wood, together achieving 64% of total exports. Estonia (X units), the Netherlands (X units), Slovakia (X units), Hungary (X units), Finland (X units) and Romania (X units) took a minor share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, the biggest increases were in Hungary (with a CAGR of +22.1%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Poland ($X), Germany ($X) and Spain ($X) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2021, with a combined 31% share of total exports. France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Italy, Estonia, Slovakia, Finland, Romania and Hungary lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 46%.

The Netherlands, with a CAGR of +16.3%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, in terms of the main exporting countries over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The export price in Europe stood at $X per unit in 2021, picking up by 4.1% against the previous year. Overall, the export price, however, showed a mild reduction. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2015 an increase of 68%. Over the period under review, the export prices attained the maximum at $X per unit in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, the export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably country of origin: the country with the highest price was the Netherlands ($X per unit), while Hungary ($X per unit) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Romania (+3.7%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Wood Box Imports

Imports in Europe

In 2021, after two years of decline, there was significant growth in supplies from abroad of cases, boxes, crates, drums and similar packings of wood, when their volume increased by 11% to X units. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.2% from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2014 when imports increased by 22% against the previous year. As a result, imports attained the peak of X units. From 2015 to 2021, the growth of imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, wood box imports surged to $X in 2021. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +4.4% from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. As a result, imports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Imports by Country

Germany represented the largest importer of cases, boxes, crates, drums and similar packings of wood in Europe, with the volume of imports reaching X units, which was approx. 26% of total imports in 2021. France (X units) ranks second in terms of the total imports with a 10% share, followed by the Netherlands (8.3%), Austria (5.7%) and Belgium (5.1%). Sweden (X units), Portugal (X units), Italy (X units), the UK (X units), the Czech Republic (X units), Switzerland (X units), Slovakia (X units) and Denmark (X units) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2021, average annual rates of growth with regard to wood box imports into Germany stood at +4.4%. At the same time, the UK (+19.4%), Portugal (+13.9%), Denmark (+13.5%), Slovakia (+10.5%), Sweden (+7.1%), Austria (+6.6%), the Czech Republic (+3.8%) and France (+2.3%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, the UK emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in Europe, with a CAGR of +19.4% from 2012-2021. Switzerland and Belgium experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Italy (-4.2%) and the Netherlands (-7.3%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Germany (+4.5 p.p.), Portugal (+2.5 p.p.), the UK (+2.4 p.p.) and Austria (+1.8 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2021, the share of Italy (-3 p.p.) and the Netherlands (-11.7 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the largest wood box importing markets in Europe were Germany ($X), France ($X) and the Netherlands ($X), with a combined 46% share of total imports. Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, the UK, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Slovakia and Portugal lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 35%.

Among the main importing countries, Denmark, with a CAGR of +11.6%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2021, the import price in Europe amounted to $X per unit, growing by 17% against the previous year. Over the period from 2012 to 2021, it increased at an average annual rate of +2.2%. As a result, import price reached the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Prices varied noticeably country of destination: the country with the highest price was Switzerland ($X per unit), while Portugal ($X per unit) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the Netherlands (+13.9%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) :