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Export paper and paperboard packaging

Paper bags, cartons and food packaging as plastic is phased out; the USA leads, then the UK and UAE.

Free to exportHS 4819
HS code
4819
Cartons, boxes, cases, bags and other packing containers of paper and paperboard — corrugated boxes, folding cartons, paper bags.
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 353 mn
to 142 countries

What is exported

Indian converters make paper carry bags, folding cartons, corrugated boxes, cups and food-service packaging. Buyers are retailers, food-service chains and packaging distributors. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 353 million under HS 4819; the USA led, followed by the UK, the UAE, the Netherlands and Canada.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Corrugated boxes and cartons3-, 5- and 7-ply boxes, mostly to neighbouring countries and the Gulf.
  • Folding cartons and printed boxesMono-cartons for pharma, food and cosmetics.
  • Paper bags and sacksKraft carry bags and multi-wall sacks for cement and food.
  • Paper cups, plates and food packagingGrowing as buyers replace single-use plastics.

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratAhmedabad, Vapi and Morbi — kraft paper and corrugated boxes
  • Tamil NaduSivakasi (printing and cartons) and Chennai
  • Delhi NCR and Uttar PradeshNoida, Faridabad and Muzaffarnagar (kraft paper mills)
  • MaharashtraMumbai–Bhiwandi and Pune

Export packing

  • Flat boxes are bundled, stretch-wrapped and stacked on ISPM-15 pallets; keep them dry, as paper loses strength in humidity.
  • Food-contact packaging needs migration test reports for the buyer market.
  • Label each bundle with size, board grade (GSM and burst strength) and quantity.

Who buys abroad

  • Manufacturers and exporters in neighbouring countries who need boxes
  • Food, pharma and FMCG brands (printed cartons)
  • Packaging distributors
  • Restaurant chains and food-service suppliers (cups and food boxes)

The quality buyers ask for

Basis weight
GSM (grams per square metre), tested by ISO 536
Strength of paper
Burst factor or bursting strength (ISO 2759), ring crush (RCT) and short-span compression (SCT), tensile
Box performance
Edge crush test (ECT) and box compression test (BCT, ISO 12048); transit tests to ISTA procedures
Moisture and Cobb
Moisture content and water absorptiveness (Cobb test, ISO 535)
Food contact
Food-contact compliance (EU Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 and national rules; US FDA 21 CFR 176) and limits on PFAS in grease-proof papers in markets that ban them
Ply and flute
3, 5 or 7 ply; flute type (A, B, C, E) and liner grades

Certificates

  • FSC chain-of-custodyOften askedNeeded to make FSC claims; many European and US brands require it for packaging.
  • Food-contact compliance (declaration and test report)RequiredLegally required for paper cups, plates, bags and wraps that touch food in the EU and USA.
  • BRCGS Packaging Materials / ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000Often askedFood-safety management for packaging plants supplying food brands.
  • ISO 9001Often askedQuality system expected by most industrial buyers.
  • EU PPWR complianceOften askedThe EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation applies from 12 August 2026; your EU customer will ask for data on recyclability and restricted substances.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Reels of kraft paper go in 20-ft or 40-ft containers, often reaching the weight limit; flat-packed boxes and bags go on pallets, loaded by volume.

How it travels

Sea freight.

Storage

Keep dry and away from humidity — paper loses strength as it absorbs moisture; wrap reels and pallets in film.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Reel or pallet tags: grade, GSM, size, weight, reel number and mill name.
  • Box maker's certificate (strength rating) printed on corrugated boxes where the buyer's market uses it.
  • FSC logo only with a valid licence code; recycling and material marks as required by the destination (PPWR labelling rules will apply in the EU).
Where to get it tested

The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), under the Ministry of Commerce, tests packaging materials and transport packs at its centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. For food-contact migration tests, search 'food contact' or 'packaging' in the NABL directory.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • CAPEXILPaper, board and paper products are listed under CAPEXIL in Appendix 2T.capexil.org ↗
  • Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain-of-custodyOptional, but many retailers in Europe and North America ask for FSC-certified paper.fsc.org ↗

Quality and checks

  • Food-contact packaging: EU food-contact rules and US FDA rules on paper in contact with food; migration test reports for inks and coatings.
  • EU: the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40 applies from 12 August 2026, with rules on recyclability, substances and labelling that your EU buyer will pass on to you.
  • PFAS-free grease-resistant coatings — several US states and the EU restrict PFAS in food packaging.
How to start small

Paper bags and simple folding cartons are the easiest start. Make or source them with food-contact test reports and FSC paper if the buyer wants it, join CAPEXIL, and target packaging distributors in the Gulf and UK with printed samples.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Bulky, low-value cargo — freight can eat the margin. Quote FOB, nest products and fill containers fully.
  • Moisture weakening boxes in transit; specify burst strength and humidity performance.
  • Inks or coatings that fail food-contact or PFAS rules in the buyer's market.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (7)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 4819 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  4. European Commission — Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40
  5. European Commission — Food contact materials
  6. Forest Stewardship Council
  7. CAPEXIL — official site

Trade data

Indian paper and paperboard packaging exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 353 mn
+19.2% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +6.1%
US$ 333 mn → US$ 353 mn
Buyer countries
142
Average export price
US$ 1.61
per kg · 2,19,683 tonnes shipped · US$ 1.69 the year before
United States of America: US$ 146 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 26.4 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 26.2 mnNetherlands: US$ 14.2 mnCanada: US$ 10.5 mnNepal: US$ 10.3 mnKenya: US$ 8 mnAustralia: US$ 7.7 mnIndonesia: US$ 6.7 mnBangladesh: US$ 4.1 mnOman: US$ 3.6 mnSingapore: US$ 1.8 mnBhutan: US$ 1.7 mnQatar: US$ 1.6 mnUnited States of America: US$ 146 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Kingdom: US$ 26.4 mnUnited KingdomUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 26.2 mnUnited Arab EmiratesNetherlands: US$ 14.2 mnCanada: US$ 10.5 mnNepal: US$ 10.3 mnNepalKenya: US$ 8 mnKenyaAustralia: US$ 7.7 mnAustraliaIndonesia: US$ 6.7 mnBangladesh: US$ 4.1 mnOman: US$ 3.6 mnSingapore: US$ 1.8 mnBhutan: US$ 1.7 mnQatar: US$ 1.6 mnIndia
Where Indian paper and paperboard packaging goes — among our 30 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 147 mn1472020-212021-22: US$ 247 mn2472021-222022-23: US$ 270 mn2702022-232023-24: US$ 286 mn2862023-242024-25: US$ 333 mn3332024-252025-26: US$ 353 mn3532025-26
India’s paper and paperboard packaging exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2022-23, lowest in 2025-26 — a 21% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 1.88 per kg2021-22: US$ 1.84 per kg2022-23: US$ 1.95 per kg1.952024-25: US$ 1.69 per kg2025-26: US$ 1.61 per kg1.612020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian paper and paperboard packaging · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 147 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 247 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 270 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 286 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 333 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 353 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 448 mn (US$ 367 mn – US$ 547 mn)4482026-272027-28: US$ 522 mn (US$ 418 mn – US$ 653 mn)5222027-28
India’s paper and paperboard packaging exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 522 mn

Likely range US$ 418 mn to US$ 653 mn.

Trend
+16.5% a year
Fit (R²)
0.83
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 146 mn+2.6%
2United KingdomUS$ 26.4 mn+12.4%
3United Arab EmiratesUS$ 26.2 mn+23.6%
4NetherlandsUS$ 14.2 mn+8.3%
5GreeceUS$ 10.7 mn+11.8%
6CanadaUS$ 10.5 mn+26.7%
7NepalUS$ 10.3 mn-1.5%
8KenyaUS$ 8 mn-21.4%
9AustraliaUS$ 7.7 mn-15.7%
10GhanaUS$ 7.3 mn-3.5%
11IndonesiaUS$ 6.7 mn-12.5%
12PhilippinesUS$ 5.2 mn+17.6%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. UnspecifiedUS$ 740k → US$ 4.4 mn+487.8%
  2. TanzaniaUS$ 2.9 mn → US$ 4.5 mn+53.1%
  3. BangladeshUS$ 2.8 mn → US$ 4.1 mn+44.7%
  4. CanadaUS$ 8.3 mn → US$ 10.5 mn+26.7%
  5. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 21.2 mn → US$ 26.2 mn+23.6%
  6. PhilippinesUS$ 4.4 mn → US$ 5.2 mn+17.6%
  7. United KingdomUS$ 23.5 mn → US$ 26.4 mn+12.4%
  8. GreeceUS$ 9.6 mn → US$ 10.7 mn+11.8%

Low demand

  1. KenyaUS$ 10.2 mn → US$ 8 mn-21.4%
  2. AustraliaUS$ 9.1 mn → US$ 7.7 mn-15.7%
  3. IndonesiaUS$ 7.6 mn → US$ 6.7 mn-12.5%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Other sacks and bags includingudng cones4819 40 00 · Paper and paperboard, sacks and bags, including cones, of paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding or fibres…US$ 129 mn+4.4%98,230 tonnesUS$ 1.31 per kgwas US$ 1.50
Boxes of non-crrugated paper and paperboard4819 20 20 · Paper and paperboard, folding cartons, boxes and cases, of non-corrugated paper or paperboardUS$ 67.7 mn+4.8%34,403 tonnesUS$ 1.97 per kgwas US$ 2.11
Flong cartnsandcases of non-crrgtd paprandbrd4819 20 90 · Paper and paperboard, folding cartons, boxes and cases, of non-corrugated paper or paperboardUS$ 60.5 mn+1%31,388 tonnesUS$ 1.93 per kgwas US$ 1.88
Boxes of corrugated paper and paper board4819 10 10 · Paper and paperboard, cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboardUS$ 50.5 mn+11.5%36,064 tonnesUS$ 1.40 per kgwas US$ 1.38
Other packns contnrs made of other materials4819 50 90 · Paper and paperboard, packing containers, including record sleeves, of paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding…US$ 17.8 mn+63.5%7,136 tonnesUS$ 2.49 per kgwas US$ 2.00
Cartnsandcases of corrugated paprandpaprbrd4819 10 90 · Paper and paperboard, cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboardUS$ 10.8 mn-1.7%4,303 tonnesUS$ 2.51 per kgwas US$ 2.25
Sacks ,bags width of base 40 cm and above4819 30 00 · Paper and paperboard, sacks and bags of paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding or fibres, having a base of a…US$ 9.7 mn+0.2%4,224 tonnesUS$ 2.29 per kgwas US$ 2.25
Cartns/boxes/cases for packng match stickssticks4819 20 10 · Paper and paperboard, folding cartons, boxes and cases, of non-corrugated paper or paperboardUS$ 3.8 mn-11.5%2,643 tonnesUS$ 1.43 per kgwas US$ 1.35
Other packng contnrs made of crrugated paper/paprbord4819 50 10 · Paper and paperboard, packing containers, including record sleeves, of paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding…US$ 2.4 mn+15.5%974 tonnesUS$ 2.44 per kgwas US$ 2.20
Box files letr trays storge boxs and simlr articles usd in offcs shops or the like4819 60 00 · Paper and paperboard, box files, letter trays, storage boxes and similar articles, used in offices, shops…US$ 1.3 mn-26.9%317 tonnesUS$ 4.19 per kgwas US$ 4.64

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 28.7 bn
2023
India among exporters
#20
of 160 countries
India’s share of world exports
0.9%
US$ 272 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 31.2 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 6.45 bn 20.5%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 3.76 bn 11.9%
  3. 3USAUS$ 2.33 bn 7.4%
  4. 4PolandUS$ 1.74 bn 5.5%
  5. 5ItalyUS$ 1.58 bn 5%
  6. 6NetherlandsUS$ 1.24 bn 3.9%
  7. 7CanadaUS$ 1.03 bn 3.3%
  8. 8AustriaUS$ 909 mn 2.9%
  9. 9SpainUS$ 867 mn 2.8%
  10. 10FranceUS$ 856 mn 2.7%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 3.36 bn 11.7%
  2. 2FranceUS$ 2.4 bn 8.4%
  3. 3GermanyUS$ 1.92 bn 6.7%
  4. 4NetherlandsUS$ 1.49 bn 5.2%
  5. 5MexicoUS$ 1.27 bn 4.4%
  6. 6United KingdomUS$ 1.21 bn 4.2%
  7. 7CanadaUS$ 1.19 bn 4.1%
  8. 8BelgiumUS$ 885 mn 3.1%
  9. 9ItalyUS$ 847 mn 3%
  10. 10SwitzerlandUS$ 833 mn 2.9%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 3.51 bnIndia 4.2% · gap US$ 3.36 bn
FranceUS$ 2.21 bnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 2.2 bn
GermanyUS$ 1.82 bnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 1.82 bn
NetherlandsUS$ 1.53 bnIndia 1% · gap US$ 1.51 bn
CanadaUS$ 1.23 bnIndia 0.8% · gap US$ 1.22 bn
United KingdomUS$ 1.21 bnIndia 1.9% · gap US$ 1.19 bn
ItalyUS$ 789 mnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 787 mn
SpainUS$ 601 mnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 599 mn
AustraliaUS$ 456 mnIndia 1% · gap US$ 451 mn
JapanUS$ 398 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 398 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export paper and paperboard packaging

India exports paper, paperboard and packaging — corrugated boxes, kraft paper, paper bags, cups and plates, and printed cartons — with mills in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Major competitors include China, Indonesia, the USA and European mills for paper, and China and Vietnam for converted packaging. Demand is rising because of plastic bans and e-commerce, and because brands want recyclable, fibre-based packs. Openings are in kraft paper and liner board for Asian and Middle Eastern markets, paper bags and food-service packaging for the Gulf and Europe, and recycled-fibre products with FSC or recycled-content claims.

  1. 01Pick product and grade

    Decide kraft paper, boxes, bags or food-service items, and the grades you can hold.

  2. 02Specification and samples

    Agree GSM, strength and size; send samples with test reports.

  3. 03Compliance documents

    Prepare food-contact declarations, FSC certificates and PPWR data as needed.

  4. 04Produce and test

    Test each lot for GSM, burst and moisture.

  5. 05Pack and load

    Wrap reels or palletise, load to weight or volume limit.

  6. 06Ship and claim

    File the shipping bill, claim RoDTEP and drawback.

  7. 07Payment

    LC or advance in new markets; paper prices move with pulp and waste-paper prices, so fix validity.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting paper and paperboard packaging

What is the EU PPWR and does it affect me?
It is the EU's packaging regulation, applying from 12 August 2026, with rules on recyclability, recycled content, restricted substances and labelling phased in over several years. EU buyers will pass these requirements to you.
Are paper cups 'plastic-free'?
Not if they have a plastic lining. The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive treats plastic-lined cups as single-use plastic products with marking rules.
Why do boxes collapse in transit?
Humidity and wrong board grade. Test BCT at the buyer's humidity and stacking height, not only dry burst strength.
Which council covers paper products?
CAPEXIL.
Do I need FSC to export boxes?
Not by law, but many brand owners require FSC-certified packaging. Ask the buyer before you invest.
Sources (6)
  1. CAPEXIL — official site
  2. European Commission — Packaging waste (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation)
  3. European Commission — Single-use plastics
  4. European Commission — Food contact materials
  5. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories
  6. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Who buys Indian paper and paperboard packaging

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