Chinese sanitary paper product imports rose 15% to $677M in 2018
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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% year over year. 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 (disposable diapers and similar disposable products, and sanitary tissue) totaled $11.1B in 2018.
In 2018, the sanitary paper product imports into the U.S. stood at 451K metric tons, 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.
In 2018, China (367K metric tons) 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 metric tons), 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%.
In 2018, the average sanitary paper product import price amounted to $2,041 per metric ton, 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 metric ton 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 metric ton), while the price for Indonesia totaled $1,454 per metric ton. From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by China.
