The OCC Price Trend moved strongly upward during Q2 2026, with global OCC prices increasing by around 12% compared with Q1 2026. The rise was mainly supported by higher recovered paper procurement costs, transportation expenses, energy prices, freight charges, and other operating costs. At the same time, demand for recycled cardboard remained healthy across packaging, e-commerce, consumer goods, food delivery, pharmaceuticals, and industrial applications.
OCC, or Old Corrugated Containers, remains an important recovered paper material for the production of containerboard and corrugated packaging. Because of this, changes in OCC availability and purchasing activity can quickly affect the broader paper and packaging market.
During Q2, supply remained relatively tight in several important markets. Collection activity continued, but available volumes were not always enough to comfortably meet mill requirements. Buyers therefore remained active in securing material, while sellers were able to maintain firmer offers.
The OCC Price Chart during the quarter reflected this combination of strong demand, limited availability, and higher logistics costs. The OCC Price Index also showed a firm market environment as buyers faced higher costs for both domestic and imported recovered paper.
What Drove the OCC Price Trend in Q2 2026?
The main factor behind the stronger OCC Price Trend was the balance between supply and demand. Demand for corrugated packaging remained healthy as e-commerce, FMCG, food, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, retail, and industrial activity continued to support paper and board consumption.
When packaging demand remains strong, paper mills generally need more recovered fiber to maintain production. This creates additional purchasing pressure in the OCC market.
On the supply side, collection volumes faced logistical challenges in some regions. Even where recycling activity remained steady, the growth in available OCC was not sufficient to completely satisfy demand. This created a tighter market and encouraged suppliers to hold prices at stronger levels.
Another important factor was the increase in transportation and freight expenses. Higher fuel and marine bunker costs made it more expensive to collect, move, process, and export recovered paper. International buyers also faced higher delivered costs when shipping routes became longer or less predictable.
Geopolitical tensions added another layer of uncertainty. Disruptions around major shipping routes affected vessel movements and encouraged buyers to manage inventories carefully. These conditions supported the overall increase in OCC Prices during Q2.
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USA OCC Price Trend
The United States remained one of the important markets for recovered paper during Q2 2026. The US OCC Price Trend increased by approximately 12% compared with Q1 2026.
Demand from containerboard mills remained healthy, supported by packaging requirements from FMCG, food delivery, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, and industrial sectors. Mills continued to purchase OCC to maintain sufficient feedstock for production.
Collection volumes remained relatively tight across several regions. This limited the amount of material available to suppliers and helped maintain stronger export offers.
The rise in fuel, energy, transportation, and freight costs also increased the overall cost of handling and exporting OCC. At the same time, demand from Asian buyers for US-origin recovered paper provided additional support to the market.
In June 2026, USA FOB OCC Grade 11 prices increased by approximately 4% compared with May. This shows that the market continued to maintain upward momentum toward the end of the quarter.
The US market therefore remained firm, with the OCC Price Chart showing a clear quarterly increase supported by healthy demand, tighter availability, higher operating costs, and stronger export activity.
India OCC Price Trend
India recorded one of the stronger increases among the markets covered in Q2 2026. Imported OCC prices from the USA increased by approximately 21% compared with Q1 2026.
Indian paper mills continued to purchase recovered paper as demand from FMCG, e-commerce, food, agriculture, and industrial packaging remained healthy. Higher containerboard consumption encouraged mills to replenish inventories and secure imported OCC.
Availability of US-origin OCC remained relatively tight, while competition among Asian buyers supported stronger supplier offers. Importers also had to manage higher bunker fuel, freight, transportation, and shipping costs.
The impact of logistics was particularly important for imported OCC because the final delivered price depends not only on the recovered paper itself but also on freight and other import-related expenses.
In June, India CFR OCC Grade 11 prices increased by around 0.14% compared with May. While this monthly movement was limited, prices remained at elevated levels after the strong quarterly increase.
The Indian OCC Price Index therefore reflected a market where demand remained firm, imported supply was relatively constrained, and logistics costs continued to influence purchasing decisions.
Spain OCC Price Trend
Spain's OCC market also experienced a significant increase during Q2 2026. FOB Barcelona prices for Grade 95/5 increased by approximately 16% compared with Q1.
Higher collection, sorting, energy, and transportation expenses increased costs for recyclers and suppliers. These higher operating costs created a stronger base for OCC pricing.
Demand from containerboard and corrugated packaging producers remained steady. E-commerce, FMCG, food, and industrial packaging continued to support recovered paper consumption.
At the same time, OCC availability remained moderately tight. Collection volumes were not always sufficient to comfortably meet mill purchasing requirements, allowing suppliers to maintain firmer export prices.
In June, Spain FOB OCC prices increased by around 4% compared with May. This continued monthly growth showed that the market remained firm toward the end of Q2.
The Spanish OCC Price Trend was therefore influenced by a combination of steady packaging demand, limited availability, rising operating costs, and stronger procurement activity.
UK OCC Price Trend
The United Kingdom recorded an approximately 17% increase in OCC Prices during Q2 2026 compared with Q1.
Collection, sorting, energy, fuel, and transportation costs all contributed to higher operating expenses. These increases affected the cost of preparing recovered paper for domestic and international buyers.
Demand remained healthy from packaging, e-commerce, FMCG, food, retail, and industrial applications. Paper mills continued to secure OCC to support containerboard production.
Supply availability was moderately tight, meaning suppliers were able to maintain stronger pricing. Buyers also remained focused on securing adequate volumes rather than waiting for lower prices.
In June 2026, UK FD OCC Grade 95/5 prices increased by around 4% compared with May. This confirmed that the market maintained positive momentum through the end of the quarter.
The UK OCC Price Chart therefore showed a firm quarterly trend, supported by demand, restricted availability, and higher production and logistics expenses.
China OCC Price Trend
China's domestic OCC market increased by approximately 10% during Q2 2026 compared with Q1.
The market was supported by healthy demand from packaging, e-commerce, FMCG, and consumer goods. Paper mills increased procurement of recovered cardboard to secure enough feedstock for containerboard production.
At the same time, collection volumes remained relatively tight. Recycling centres and collection points were cautious about selling material at lower prices when mill demand was strong.
Higher transportation, energy, processing, and procurement costs also contributed to stronger prices. The combination of active mill purchasing and limited supply availability helped push the market higher.
The monthly movement in June was particularly strong. Waste Yellow Cardboard Grade A prices increased by around 8% compared with May.
This made China one of the markets showing stronger short-term momentum. The OCC Price Index reflected stronger domestic purchasing activity and a relatively tight supply situation.
Indonesia OCC Price Trend
Indonesia's imported OCC market increased by approximately 19% in Q2 2026 compared with Q1.
Paper mills continued to purchase imported OCC as demand from packaging, e-commerce, FMCG, food, and industrial applications remained healthy. Imported recovered paper was important for maintaining sufficient feedstock for containerboard production.
US-origin OCC availability remained relatively tight as demand from several Asian markets increased. This supported stronger supplier offers.
Freight and bunker fuel costs also played an important role. Shipping disruptions and longer transit times increased the delivered cost of imported recovered paper.
Despite the strong quarterly increase, the June movement was limited. Indonesia CFR OCC Grade 11 prices increased by only around 0.13% compared with May.
This suggests that the market remained firm but began to show more stability after the larger quarterly increase.
Vietnam OCC Price Trend
Vietnam also recorded an approximately 19% quarterly increase in OCC Prices during Q2 2026.
Packaging, e-commerce, FMCG, food, and industrial sectors continued to support demand for recovered paper. Vietnamese mills increased procurement of imported OCC to maintain feedstock availability and stable containerboard production.
International OCC supply remained relatively tight, while Asian purchasing competition supported stronger supplier pricing. Freight and bunker fuel costs added further pressure to import prices.
Geopolitical uncertainty and disruptions around major shipping routes also increased transit times and shipping expenses.
In June 2026, Vietnam CFR OCC Grade 11 prices increased by around 0.13% compared with May. Similar to Indonesia, this indicates that the market remained firm while monthly growth slowed considerably.
OCC Price Chart and OCC Price Index Outlook
The OCC Price Chart for Q2 2026 showed a clear upward movement across most major markets. The strongest quarterly increases in the supplied market data came from India at about 21%, Indonesia and Vietnam at about 19%, the UK at 17%, Spain at 16%, the USA at 12%, and China at 10%.
This broad increase shows that the market was not driven by one single country. Instead, several common factors affected the global recovered paper market.
The OCC Price Index was supported by strong packaging demand, limited supply growth, higher transportation expenses, elevated energy costs, and more expensive international freight.
Looking ahead, the OCC market is likely to remain sensitive to several factors. Packaging demand will remain important, especially from e-commerce, FMCG, food delivery, retail, and industrial applications. Collection volumes will also determine how much material becomes available to mills.
If collection improves faster than demand, price pressure could ease. On the other hand, if packaging demand remains strong while collection and transportation remain constrained, OCC Prices could continue to stay firm.
Freight conditions will also remain important for imported OCC markets such as India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Any improvement in shipping routes could reduce delivered costs, while renewed disruptions could create additional upward pressure.
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Key Factors to Watch for OCC Prices
Several factors should be monitored when assessing the future OCC Price Trend:
- Recovered paper collection volumes
- Containerboard and corrugated packaging demand
- E-commerce and FMCG activity
- Paper mill operating rates
- Energy and fuel costs
- Domestic transportation expenses
- Ocean freight and bunker fuel prices
- International shipping disruptions
- Import demand from Asian markets
- Inventory levels at paper mills and recycling centres
These factors work together. For example, stronger packaging demand can increase mill purchasing, while higher freight costs can make imported OCC more expensive even if the underlying recovered paper price remains stable.
The OCC Price Trend Q2 2026 was clearly bullish, with the global market increasing by around 12% compared with Q1 2026. Strong packaging demand, tighter availability, higher collection and processing costs, rising transportation expenses, and elevated freight costs all contributed to the increase.
India recorded the strongest quarterly increase at around 21%, followed by Indonesia and Vietnam at 19%, the UK at 17%, Spain at 16%, the USA at 12%, and China at 10%.
The market also remained firm toward the end of the quarter, although monthly movements varied significantly between regions. China recorded particularly strong June growth, while India, Indonesia, and Vietnam showed more limited monthly increases after their larger quarterly gains.
Overall, the Q2 OCC Price Chart and OCC Price Index indicate that recovered paper markets remained supported by resilient packaging demand and restricted supply conditions. Going forward, collection volumes, mill purchasing, freight costs, energy prices, and global shipping conditions will remain the key factors to watch when evaluating future OCC Prices.
About Price-Watch™
Price Watch™ is an India-based, independent raw material price reporting agency that provides real-time price forecasts and data-driven insights into global raw material markets. Price Watch™ specializes in tracking raw material prices, analyzing market trends, and delivering timely updates on plant shutdowns, supply disruptions, capacity expansions, and demand-supply dynamics. The Price Watch™ platform empowers manufacturers, traders, and procurement professionals to make faster, smarter decisions. Leveraging AI-powered forecasting and over a decade of historical data, Price Watch™ transforms market volatility into actionable opportunity.
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