US sanitary paper product market - Chinese imports rose 15%  

Photo: Neptuul/Wikimedia Commons

IndexBox has just published a new report: 'U.S. Sanitary Paper Product Market. Analysis And Forecast to 2025'. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

 

In 2018, the revenue of the sanitary paper product market in the U.S. amounted to $12B. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price).

 

Overall, sanitary paper product consumption continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 when the market value increased by 2.3% y-o-y. Over the period under review, the sanitary paper product market attained its maximum level at $12.2B in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2018, consumption remained at a lower figure.

 

Sanitary Paper  Production in the U.S.

In value terms, sanitary paper production (disposable diapers and similar disposable products, and sanitary tissue) totaled $11.1B in 2018.

 

Exports from the U.S.

In 2018, the amount of sanitary paper product exported from the U.S. amounted to 128K tonnes, going up by 5.6% against the previous year. Over the period under review, sanitary paper product exports, however, continue to indicate a mild reduction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 with an increase of 8.7% against the previous year. In that year, sanitary paper product exports reached their peak of 153K tonnes. From 2015 to 2018, the growth of sanitary paper product exports remained at a lower figure.

 

In value terms, sanitary paper product exports amounted to $373M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. In general, sanitary paper product exports, however, continue to indicate a measured decrease. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2018 with an increase of 8.4% year-to-year. Exports peaked at $443M in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2018, exports remained at a lower figure.

 

Exports by Country

Japan (17K tonnes), Belgium (16K tonnes) and the Dominican Republic (10K tonnes) were the main destinations of sanitary paper product exports from the U.S., with a combined 34% share of total exports.

 

From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of exports, amongst the main countries of destination, was attained by Belgium (+77.9% per year), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

 

In value terms, Japan ($50M), Belgium ($38M) and the Dominican Republic ($29M) appeared to be the largest markets for sanitary paper product exported from the U.S. worldwide, with a combined 31% share of total exports.

 

Belgium recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to exports, among the main countries of destination over the last five years, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

 

Export Prices by Country

In 2018, the average sanitary paper product export price amounted to $2,904 per tonne, going up by 2.7% against the previous year. Overall, the sanitary paper product export price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when the average export price increased by 2.7% year-to-year. The export price peaked at $2,943 per tonne in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2018, export prices failed to regain their momentum.

 

There were significant differences in the average prices for the major foreign markets. In 2018, the country with the highest price was South Korea ($3,747 per tonne), while the average price for exports to Belgium ($2,352 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

 

From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Guatemala, while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

 

Imports into the U.S.

In 2018, the sanitary paper product imports into the U.S. stood at 451K tonnes, going up by 10% against the previous year. In general, the total imports indicated a strong expansion from 2013 to 2018: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +10.6% over the last five-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, sanitary paper product imports increased by +65.6% against 2013 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 with an increase of 15% y-o-y. Over the period under review, sanitary paper product imports attained their peak figure in 2018 and are expected to retain its growth in the immediate term.

 

In value terms, sanitary paper product imports amounted to $920M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +10.0% from 2013 to 2018; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded over the period under review. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 when imports increased by 18% against the previous year. Imports peaked in 2018 and are expected to retain its growth in the immediate term.

 

Imports by Country

In 2018, China (367K tonnes) constituted the largest sanitary paper product supplier to the U.S., with a 82% share of total imports. Moreover, sanitary paper product imports from China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Indonesia (17K tonnes), more than tenfold.

 

From 2013 to 2018, the average annual growth rate of volume from China amounted to +10.3%.

 

In value terms, China ($677M) constituted the largest supplier of sanitary paper product to the U.S., comprising 74% of total sanitary paper product imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Indonesia ($25M), with a 2.7% share of total imports.

 

From 2013 to 2018, the average annual growth rate of value from China stood at +11.3%.

 

Import Prices by Country

In 2018, the average sanitary paper product import price amounted to $2,041 per tonne, surging by 4.7% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the sanitary paper product import price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 an increase of 4.7% y-o-y. The import price peaked at $2,171 per tonne in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2018, import prices failed to regain their momentum.

 

Average prices varied somewhat amongst the major supplying countries. In 2018, the country with the highest price was China ($1,842 per tonne), while the price for Indonesia totaled $1,454 per tonne.

 

From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by China.

For more information, check out this link: https://www.indexbox.io/blog/sanitary-paper-product-market-in-the-u-s-key-insights-2019/