Paper and paperboard — Import quantity in China, mainland

China, mainland: Paper and paperboard — Import quantity was 10.87 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
10.87 million t
Change on year
down 6.9%
World rank
2nd
of 255 countries
All-time high
12.33 million t
in 2020
All-time low
200 t
in 1963
Years of data
63
1962–2024

Paper and paperboard — Import quantity in China, mainland, 1962–2024

02.5M5.0M7.5M10.0M12.5M196219932024

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in t.

Analysis

China, mainland recorded 10.87 million t for paper and paperboard — import quantity in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.9% on the previous year and up 304.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, paper and paperboard — import quantity in China, mainland peaked at 12.33 million t in 2020 and was at its lowest, 200 t, in 1963.

That places China, mainland 2nd out of 255 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Paper and paperboard — Import quantity in China, mainland, year by year

Annual values for Paper and paperboard — Import quantity in China, mainland, 1962 to 2024.
Year t Change
1962 500 t —
1963 200 t -60.0%
1964 45,000 t +22400.0%
1965 45,000 t +0.0%
1966 46,400 t +3.1%
1967 44,400 t -4.3%
1968 52,700 t +18.7%
1969 38,000 t -27.9%
1970 74,900 t +97.1%
1971 107,100 t +43.0%
1972 107,100 t +0.0%
1973 107,100 t +0.0%
1974 107,100 t +0.0%
1975 107,100 t +0.0%
1976 130,700 t +22.0%
1977 202,500 t +54.9%
1978 318,500 t +57.3%
1979 318,500 t +0.0%
1980 558,000 t +75.2%
1981 556,900 t -0.2%
1982 373,000 t -33.0%
1983 515,100 t +38.1%
1984 449,000 t -12.8%
1985 808,000 t +80.0%
1986 1.22 million t +50.7%
1987 1.34 million t +9.7%
1988 862,000 t -35.5%
1989 844,400 t -2.0%
1990 969,100 t +14.8%
1991 1.34 million t +38.7%
1992 2.33 million t +73.4%
1993 2.37 million t +1.8%
1994 2.02 million t -14.7%
1995 1.68 million t -16.8%
1996 4.32 million t +156.6%
1997 5.51 million t +27.5%
1998 5.79 million t +5.2%
1999 6.46 million t +11.6%
2000 5.94 million t -8.1%
2001 5.49 million t -7.5%
2002 6.09 million t +10.8%
2003 6.34 million t +4.1%
2004 6.14 million t -3.1%
2005 5.39 million t -12.3%
2006 4.31 million t -20.0%
2007 3.79 million t -11.9%
2008 3.37 million t -11.3%
2009 3.18 million t -5.5%
2010 3.17 million t -0.2%
2011 3.14 million t -1.2%
2012 2.98 million t -4.8%
2013 2.72 million t -9.0%
2014 2.69 million t -1.0%
2015 2.75 million t +2.1%
2016 2.85 million t +3.6%
2017 4.59 million t +61.2%
2018 6.14 million t +33.9%
2019 6.16 million t +0.3%
2020 12.33 million t +100.2%
2021 11.70 million t -5.1%
2022 8.82 million t -24.6%
2023 11.67 million t +32.3%
2024 10.87 million t -6.9%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Paper and paperboard — Import quantity in China, mainland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1964 +22400.0% 200 t 45,000 t
1996 +156.6% 1.68 million t 4.32 million t

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 34,025 t 200 t 52,700 t 8
1970s 158,060 t 74,900 t 318,500 t 10
1980s 752,040 t 373,000 t 1.34 million t 10
1990s 3.28 million t 969,100 t 6.46 million t 10
2000s 5.00 million t 3.18 million t 6.34 million t 10
2010s 3.72 million t 2.69 million t 6.16 million t 10
2020s 11.08 million t 8.82 million t 12.33 million t 5

Countries ranked near China, mainland

  1. 1 China 12.16 million t compare
  2. 3 Germany 8.88 million t compare
  3. 4 United States 7.68 million t compare
  4. 5 Poland 5.16 million t compare

See the full ranking of 284 places →

More environment data for China, mainland

All data for China, mainland →

Frequently asked questions

What is paper and paperboard — import quantity in China, mainland?
Paper and paperboard — import quantity in China, mainland was 10.87 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest paper and paperboard — import quantity recorded in China, mainland?
The highest recorded value was 12.33 million t in 2020.
What is the lowest paper and paperboard — import quantity recorded in China, mainland?
The lowest recorded value was 200 t in 1963.
How does China, mainland rank for paper and paperboard — import quantity?
China, mainland ranks 2nd out of 255 countries with data for 2024.
Is paper and paperboard — import quantity rising or falling in China, mainland?
Over the last ten years it is up 304.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China, mainland data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Paper and paperboard — Import quantity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Paper and paperboard — Import quantity in China, mainland. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/paper-and-paperboard-import-quantity/china-mainland/

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About this data

Indicator
Paper and paperboard — Import quantity
Unit
t
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
284 places, 14,447 data points, 1961–2024
Last refreshed

The database contains data on the production and trade in roundwood and in primary wood and paper products for all countries and territories in the world.The main types of primary forest products included in this database are roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, pulp, and paper and paperboard. These products are detailed further and defined in the Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JFSQ) (https://www.fao.org/statistics/data-collection/forestry/en). The database contains details of the following topics: - roundwood removals (production) by coniferous and non-coniferous wood and assortments, - production and trade in industrial roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, wood charcoal, pulp, paper and paperboard, and other products. More detailed information on wood products, including definitions, can be found at: https://www.fao.org/statistics/data-collection/forestry/en