Paper Scrap Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

France remained the priciest Paper Scrap market tracked, rising just above 4.4% in Q2 2026 to near USD 190.00/MT from about USD 182.00/MT in Q1, and it was strengthening European recycling demand together with higher collection and processing expenses that kept the market elevated. The global average climbed from close to USD 147.50/MT to near USD 154.75/MT, a gain of roughly 4.9%. As the data shows, this market bottomed out toward the end of 2025 after a genuine box demand recession that had persisted longer than forecasters expected, and prices have risen steadily every month since, and the global average is likely to run in the USD 148 to 172/MT range through the second half of the year.

Paper Scrap, also known as recovered paper or waste paper, includes grades such as old corrugated containers, sorted office paper, and mixed paper collected for recycling into new paper and paperboard products. It serves as the primary fiber feedstock for recycled paperboard and containerboard production, supporting the broader packaging industry's shift toward circular economy practices. Demand for high grades has remained particularly strong given limited substitution options on the manufacturing side, while export demand to Asian importing markets has continued growing alongside steady domestic mill consumption. Because this product depends on both collection economics and downstream mill demand, collection and transportation costs, domestic and export demand from paper and paperboard mills, and macroeconomic factors affecting box demand and e-commerce activity are what really move the price from quarter to quarter.

Paper Scrap Price Forecast for 2026

The recovery from the box demand recession that bottomed out toward the end of 2025 shows continued momentum heading into H2 2026, which points toward sustained gradual firmness across every market tracked. Strong export demand to Asian importing markets, alongside steady domestic mill consumption, should keep supporting the market regardless of broader macroeconomic conditions.

A further strengthening of box demand and e-commerce activity, or accelerating export demand to Asian markets, could be what pushes prices above this forecast. A renewed softening in packaging demand, or improved domestic collection reducing import reliance, could be what eases the market back toward the lower end instead.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Paper Scrap Prices Q2 2026:

• France: USD 190.00/MT
• United States: USD 156.00/MT
• India: USD 145.00/MT
• China: USD 128.00/MT

Paper Scrap Prices in France

France stayed the priciest market tracked, with the price moving from about USD 182.00/MT to near USD 190.00/MT, a gain of just above 4.4%. It was strengthening recycling demand across the European paper manufacturing sector, together with higher collection and processing expenses, that carried the increase.

Why did the price of Paper Scrap change in Q2 2026 in France?

Higher buying interest from mills has continued supporting improved market conditions, while collection and processing expenses contribute to upward price movement, and it is this combination of strengthening demand and rising handling costs that has kept French pricing at the top of the range this quarter.

Paper Scrap Prices in United States

The United States price moved from about USD 148.00/MT to near USD 156.00/MT, a gain of just above 5.4%. It was stronger demand from paper mills, together with improved purchasing activity from recycling companies, that carried the increase.

Why did the price of Paper Scrap change in Q2 2026 in United States?

Domestic manufacturers have shown steady interest in securing quality scrap grades to maintain production continuity, and it is this demand, combined with higher collection and transportation expenses that have supported price growth even as recovered paper availability remained balanced, that has kept United States pricing on a steady upward path.

Paper Scrap Prices in India

The Indian price moved from about USD 138.00/MT to near USD 145.00/MT, a gain of just above 5.1%. It was continued growing import demand for recovered paper, together with steady domestic mill consumption, that carried the increase.

Why did the price of Paper Scrap change in Q2 2026 in India?

India has continued absorbing rising volumes of imported recovered paper to feed its expanding domestic mill capacity, and it is this growing import demand, combined with steady domestic mill consumption, that has kept Indian pricing on a gradual upward path.

Paper Scrap Prices in China

The Chinese price moved from about USD 122.00/MT to near USD 128.00/MT, a gain of just above 4.9%. It was continued export demand from importing Asian markets, together with steady domestic mill consumption, that carried the increase.

Why did the price of Paper Scrap change in Q2 2026 in China?

Recovered paper exports from major supplying markets to Asian importing countries have continued rising, even as total domestic demand stayed strong, a combination more consistent with genuine growth in recovered-fiber generation than with a simple reallocation of tons, and it is this broader growth that has kept Chinese pricing gradually improving even as it remains the most affordable of the four markets tracked.

For the Quarter Ending March 2026

Paper Scrap Prices Q1 2026:

• France: USD 182.00/MT
• United States: USD 148.00/MT
• India: USD 138.00/MT
• China: USD 122.00/MT

Paper Scrap Prices in France

The price reached close to USD 182.00/MT in Q1 2026, a rise of just above 5.8% from Q4 2025. It was strengthening recycling demand, together with higher collection costs, that pushed the market higher.

Why did the price of Paper Scrap change in Q1 2026 in France?

Recycling demand strengthened across the European paper manufacturing sector entering the year, and it was this demand, meeting higher collection and processing expenses that suppliers faced amid tightening supply, that drove the French increase.

Paper Scrap Prices in United States

The price reached close to USD 148.00/MT in Q1 2026, a rise of just above 5.7% from Q4 2025. It was rising prices for old corrugated containers and other recovered paper grades, following a bottom recorded in the prior quarter, that pushed the market higher.

Why did the price of Paper Scrap change in Q1 2026 in United States?

Prices for old corrugated containers and other recovered paper grades appeared to enjoy upward momentum after a downward trend through the second half of the prior year, and supply factors including a seasonally slowed generation month and transportation challenges tied to winter weather restricted materials collection, and it was this combination that drove the United States increase.

Paper Scrap Prices in India

The price reached close to USD 138.00/MT in Q1 2026, a rise of just above 6.2% from Q4 2025. It was growing import demand, together with steady domestic mill consumption, that pushed the market higher.

Why did the price of Paper Scrap change in Q1 2026 in India?

Growing import demand for recovered paper continued supporting Indian pricing entering the year, and it was this demand, meeting steady domestic mill consumption, that drove the increase.

Paper Scrap Prices in China

The price reached close to USD 122.00/MT in Q1 2026, a rise of just above 6.1% from Q4 2025. It was recovering global demand, together with steady domestic mill consumption, that pushed the market higher.

Why did the price of Paper Scrap change in Q1 2026 in China?

Global recovered paper demand began recovering entering the year after a soft stretch through the prior year's second half, and it was this recovery, meeting steady domestic mill consumption, that drove the Chinese increase.

Quarterly Paper Scrap Price Trends

This market eased through most of 2025 before recovering sharply in early 2026. Close to USD 158.25/MT in Q1 2025 slid to about USD 148.00/MT, near USD 142.00/MT, and close to USD 139.25/MT by Q4, before recovering to about USD 147.50/MT in Q1 2026 and near USD 154.75/MT in Q2. That is a decline of roughly 2.2% across the full window, though the two-quarter recovery marks a clear break from the downward trend that dominated most of 2025.

What was Paper Scrap Price in 2025?

It was a persistent box demand recession, longer-lasting than forecasters had expected, that pulled this market lower through most of 2025 across every market tracked. The global average opened near USD 158.25/MT in Q1 and eased to close to USD 139.25/MT by Q4, a decline of just above 12.0% for the year, before prices bottomed out and began recovering steadily into 2026.

Paper Scrap Prices in France in 2025

The French price eased from about USD 195.00/MT in Q1 2025 to near USD 172.00/MT by Q4, a decline of just above 11.8% for the year, before the recovery that followed into 2026, holding the highest absolute cost among the four markets tracked throughout. It was a downward trend through the second half of the year, tied to softer demand across the recovered paper market broadly, that pressured French pricing lower through most of 2025.

Paper Scrap Prices in United States in 2025

The United States price eased from about USD 160.00/MT in Q1 2025 to near USD 140.00/MT by Q4, a decline of just above 12.5% for the year, before recovering into 2026 as prices bottomed and began rising monthly. It was a downward trend through the second half of the year that pressured domestic pricing, tied to a box demand recession that had persisted longer than forecasters expected, before the recovery that began building toward year-end.

Paper Scrap Prices in India in 2025

The Indian price eased from about USD 148.00/MT in Q1 2025 to near USD 130.00/MT by Q4, a decline of just above 12.2% for the year, before recovering into 2026 as import demand strengthened. It was softer global recovered paper demand that pressured Indian pricing lower through most of 2025, ahead of the recovery driven by growing import volumes into domestic mill capacity that followed.

Paper Scrap Prices in China in 2025

The Chinese price eased from about USD 130.00/MT in Q1 2025 to near USD 115.00/MT by Q4, a decline of just above 11.5% for the year, the smallest absolute cost among the four markets tracked throughout, before recovering into 2026. It was a broader downward trend across the global recovered paper market that pressured Chinese pricing lower through most of 2025, ahead of the recovery that followed.

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Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Paper Scrap Price Intelligence

The Paper Scrap market depends on both collection economics and downstream mill demand, so Expert Market Research tracks collection and transportation costs closely alongside domestic and export demand from paper and paperboard mills and macroeconomic factors affecting box demand across the four markets covered here. This is combined with trade flow data to build the forecasts. For Paper Scrap pricing data, custom analysis, or procurement strategy support, the team is glad to help.