Japanese exports of fibre based packaging rose 71% on the year to 61,700 tons in October to break a record set three decades ago, reports Nikkei Asian Review.
Corrugated components made up the bulk of the exports, surging 73% to 59,900 tons in a second straight month of records. This included shipments to China, with its blossoming e-commerce market, shooting up 34-fold on the year. Environmental regulations restricting Chinese imports of recycled paper also played a role, boosting shipments of newly produced corrugated components from Japan. The previous overall monthly record of 58,500 tons was set in March 1987.
Preparations for Singles Day, the November 11th shopping bonanza organized by Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding, also lifted demand for corrugated components. Shipments to China more than doubled from September to 22,600 tons.
Meanwhile, shipments of paper and paperboard within Japan declined 0.2% on the year to 2.12 million tons in October to mark a third straight month of decline. Sluggishness in paper for printing and communication applications led to a 2% drop in paper shipments to 1.13 million tons. Paperboard shipments rose 2% to 993,000 tons, likely helped by online shopping for home appliances and consumer electronics.
