The Peruvian corrugated paper market continued to show weaker activity in the second quarter of 2023. Some 45% of corrugated box consumption takes place in the first half of the year. In 2023, demand has been 5-10% lower when compared with 2022.
Kraftliner imports have been dramatically dropping so far, with only 3,158 tons registered in the first fourth months of the year, according to data from Peruvian Customs. This represents a 92.3% year-on-year drop, with imports from the US alone slumping by 91.1% to 926 tons.
Brazilian exports to Peru, which accounted for 10,020 tons in the first four-months of 2022, were 31 tons this year, a drop of 99.69%. Integrated paper producers have higher paper inventories, so even with a more optimistic second half, there will be still higher paper stocks at the end of 2023.
Source: fastmarkets.com