Recovered Paper - OCC: Market Size & Forecast 2026

The global recovered paper market, dominated by Old Corrugated Containers (OCC), stands at approximately USD 38.5 billion in 2025 (base year), produced at a delivered reference price of USD 145 per metric ton for US 11-grade baled OCC. We estimate the category will reach USD 46.7 billion by 2032 on a 2.8% CAGR, held in structural tension between a 62% containerboard dependency, the permanent China solid-waste import ban that has redirected global trade flows, and a volatile OCC spot market that crashed from roughly USD 150/MT in 2017 to a USD 26/MT average by 2019 and remains prone to sharp inventory-driven corrections. The category is more commodity than specialty: 55% of recovered paper tonnage is OCC, collected through municipal curbside and MRF streams, sorted and baled, then consumed primarily by integrated containerboard mills across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. > **Ana

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