Recovered paper — Import quantity in China
China: Recovered paper — Import quantity was 1.77 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Recovered paper — Import quantity in China, 1970–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in t.
Analysis
The most recent figure for recovered paper — import quantity in China is 1.77 million t, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.8% on the previous year and down 93.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, recovered paper — import quantity in China peaked at 31.04 million t in 2012 and was at its lowest, 105,000 t, in 1970.
China ranks 10th of 231 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Recovered paper — Import quantity in China, year by year
| Year | t | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 105,000 t | — |
| 1971 | 106,000 t | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 147,000 t | +38.7% |
| 1973 | 176,600 t | +20.1% |
| 1974 | 188,256 t | +6.6% |
| 1975 | 196,728 t | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 185,927 t | -5.5% |
| 1977 | 241,148 t | +29.7% |
| 1978 | 357,173 t | +48.1% |
| 1979 | 452,022 t | +26.6% |
| 1980 | 562,228 t | +24.4% |
| 1981 | 544,943 t | -3.1% |
| 1982 | 795,100 t | +45.9% |
| 1983 | 928,400 t | +16.8% |
| 1984 | 953,800 t | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 928,500 t | -2.7% |
| 1986 | 1.49 million t | +60.7% |
| 1987 | 1.56 million t | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 1.72 million t | +9.9% |
| 1989 | 2.25 million t | +31.1% |
| 1990 | 1.80 million t | -20.0% |
| 1991 | 2.59 million t | +43.7% |
| 1992 | 2.11 million t | -18.5% |
| 1993 | 1.78 million t | -15.4% |
| 1994 | 2.19 million t | +23.0% |
| 1995 | 2.40 million t | +9.4% |
| 1996 | 3.14 million t | +31.0% |
| 1997 | 3.03 million t | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 3.06 million t | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 3.65 million t | +19.4% |
| 2000 | 4.82 million t | +31.9% |
| 2001 | 7.50 million t | +55.8% |
| 2002 | 7.98 million t | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 10.58 million t | +32.7% |
| 2004 | 12.59 million t | +18.9% |
| 2005 | 14.44 million t | +14.7% |
| 2006 | 20.47 million t | +41.8% |
| 2007 | 23.60 million t | +15.3% |
| 2008 | 25.09 million t | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 28.19 million t | +12.3% |
| 2010 | 25.11 million t | -10.9% |
| 2011 | 28.09 million t | +11.9% |
| 2012 | 31.04 million t | +10.5% |
| 2013 | 30.05 million t | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 28.32 million t | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 29.88 million t | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 29.21 million t | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 26.85 million t | -8.1% |
| 2018 | 18.48 million t | -31.2% |
| 2019 | 11.77 million t | -36.3% |
| 2020 | 8.29 million t | -29.6% |
| 2021 | 2.09 million t | -74.8% |
| 2022 | 1.82 million t | -12.9% |
| 2023 | 1.94 million t | +6.6% |
| 2024 | 1.77 million t | -8.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.77 million t is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 539.5 t, 3277.9× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- China's 1.77 million t is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 32 t, 55263.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 215,585 t | 105,000 t | 452,022 t | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.17 million t | 544,943 t | 2.25 million t | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.58 million t | 1.78 million t | 3.65 million t | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.53 million t | 4.82 million t | 28.19 million t | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.88 million t | 11.77 million t | 31.04 million t | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.18 million t | 1.77 million t | 8.29 million t | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.2517 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is recovered paper — import quantity in China?
- Recovered paper — import quantity in China was 1.77 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest recovered paper — import quantity recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 31.04 million t in 2012.
- What is the lowest recovered paper — import quantity recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 105,000 t in 1970.
- How does China rank for recovered paper — import quantity?
- China ranks 10th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is recovered paper — import quantity rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 93.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Recovered paper — Import quantity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO).
About this data
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