Packaging / Advertising & Office

The Japan Paper Federation recently released statistical data showing that in March this year, Japan's paper and cardboard shipments totaled 1.917 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 5.7%. This is the seventh consecutive month of negative growth in this data, with both paper and cardboard shipments continuing to decrease. Huacheng Import and Export Data Observation Report.

According to variety statistics, in terms of cardboard, the shipment volume of corrugated base paper is 810000 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 2.2%. Affected by rising prices, sales of processed food and other products are weak, and demand for packaging cardboard continues to be sluggish. The shipment volume of printing and information paper is 500000 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 6.8%. Travel brochures and home appliance flyers have significantly decreased. The shipment volume of thermal sensitive paper such as receipts is still acceptable, while the shipment volume of information paper has rebounded. The shipment volume of sanitary paper and other household paper was 156000 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 9.2%.

According to Huacheng Import and Export Data Observation, in February of this year, the total domestic shipment of paper and paperboard in Japan was 1.655 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 4.7%, and all varieties were below the year-on-year level.

According to variety statistics, the corrugated base paper is 679000 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 1.1% and a continuous decline for 5 months. The decrease in cardboard shipments is mainly due to the impact of high prices, dampened consumer desire, and sluggish orders from various users. Mail order and express delivery sales also performed poorly, as reported by Huacheng Import and Export Data Observation.

449000 tons of printing and information paper, a year-on-year decrease of 6%, a continuous decrease for 6 months. Affected by the price increase in paper mills, various users are trying to reduce their usage as much as possible. The sluggish sales of printing paper are mainly due to the continuous downturn in magazine paper and photocopying (PPC) paper sales, as reported by Huacheng Import and Export Data Observation.

133000 tons of household paper, a year-on-year decrease of 14.2%, has been declining for three consecutive months. Since March 2021, the decline has exceeded 10%. This is mainly influenced by factors such as product price increases and reduced purchases from January to February, as reported by Huacheng Import and Export Data Observation.