HS Code:
The 'Weighing over 30 g/m²' category, often associated with specific types of paper, textiles, or other materials under various HS codes (e.g., HS 4802 for uncoated paper or HS 5603 for nonwovens), includes products that have a weight exceeding 30 grams per square meter. This category typically covers materials used in packaging, printing, industrial applications, and manufacturing. Due to its wide range of applications, it is a significant category in global trade, influenced by industrial demand, environmental regulations, and raw material availability.
Total Trade Volume
Approximately $15 billion USD
Data from 2022
Source
United Nations Comtrade Database, World Trade Organization (WTO) Reports
$3.2 billion USD
21.3% of total trade of total trade
Increasing
$2.1 billion USD
14.0% of total trade of total trade
Stable
$1.8 billion USD
12.0% of total trade of total trade
Stable
$1.5 billion USD
10.0% of total trade of total trade
Decreasing
$1.0 billion USD
6.7% of total trade of total trade
Increasing
Average Rate
5.2% ad valorem
Highest Rate
12% (imposed by certain developing countries on imports to protect domestic industries)
Lowest Rate
0% (under free trade agreements like EU-Japan EPA or USMCA)
Shift towards sustainable materials
Increased demand for recycled and eco-friendly products in this category, driving innovation in production processes but raising costs for non-compliant exporters.
2021-2023
Rising e-commerce packaging needs
Significant growth in demand for heavier paper and nonwoven materials for packaging, particularly in Asia-Pacific and North America.
2020-2022
Digitalization reducing demand for printing paper
Decline in certain sub-categories like uncoated printing paper, especially in developed markets, offset by growth in industrial applications.
2019-2023
The European Union introduced anti-dumping tariffs ranging from 8-10% on certain paper products weighing over 30 g/m² from China and Indonesia to protect domestic producers.
March 2023
Likely to shift trade flows towards other suppliers like Brazil and India, increasing costs for EU importers in the short term.
Revised rules under the USMCA have reduced tariffs to 0% for qualifying products in this category among the US, Canada, and Mexico, boosting regional trade.
January 2023
Encourages North American manufacturers to source materials regionally, potentially reducing reliance on Asian imports.
Several countries, including Japan and South Korea, have introduced subsidies for companies using recycled materials in products weighing over 30 g/m².
June 2022
Increases production costs but enhances market access for eco-friendly producers, reshaping competitive dynamics.