The OCC Price Trend moved higher across major global markets during Q2 2026, as stronger packaging demand, tighter recovered paper availability, and rising transportation and operating costs pushed prices upward. Compared with Q1 2026, the global OCC market increased by around 12% in Q2. The movement was supported by steady demand from packaging, e-commerce, consumer goods, food, pharmaceuticals, and industrial applications. At the same time, collection and supply challenges made it harder for mills and buyers to secure enough recovered cardboard at lower prices.
For anyone following the recycled paper market, Q2 2026 was a period of firm pricing. The market was influenced not by one single factor, but by several costs and demand conditions working together. Higher fuel and energy expenses increased the cost of collecting, sorting, processing, and transporting recovered paper. Freight costs also remained important, particularly for international buyers that depended on imported OCC.
Global OCC Price Trend in Q2 2026
The global OCC Prices market strengthened noticeably during the second quarter of 2026. The approximately 12% increase from Q1 shows how quickly market conditions changed during the period.
One simple way to understand the movement is to look at the balance between supply and demand. Paper mills needed recovered cardboard for containerboard production, while available collection volumes did not always increase at the same pace. When buyers need more material but sellers have limited quantities available, prices generally receive upward support.
Packaging demand remained an important part of the story. E-commerce continued to require large quantities of corrugated boxes, while food, FMCG, consumer goods, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and industrial products also supported demand for packaging materials.
Transportation added another layer of pressure. OCC often needs to travel from collection points and recycling facilities to paper mills or ports. When fuel, freight, and other logistics expenses rise, the final price of recovered paper can also increase.
This combination of healthy demand, limited availability, and higher operating expenses created a firm market environment during Q2.
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Understanding the Q2 2026 OCC Price Chart
The OCC Price Chart for Q2 2026 shows a generally upward direction across the markets covered. Although each country experienced a different level of growth, the common theme was stronger pricing compared with Q1.
The quarterly changes were approximately:
- Global OCC market: +12% compared with Q1
- USA: +12%
- India: +21%
- Spain: +16%
- UK: +17%
- China: +10%
- Indonesia: +19%
- Vietnam: +19%
These numbers show that the increase was not identical in every market. Import-dependent markets, in particular, faced additional pressure from freight, bunker fuel, shipping, and international procurement costs.
The strongest quarterly increase among the markets listed was seen in India, while China recorded the comparatively smaller increase. Indonesia and Vietnam also experienced significant increases because imported OCC costs were affected by both global recovered paper prices and shipping expenses.
USA OCC Price Trend
The US market remained firm during Q2 2026. Exported OCC Grade 11 prices increased by approximately 12% compared with Q1.
Demand from packaging-related industries supported purchasing activity. Food delivery, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, and industrial packaging all contributed to continued demand for containerboard and, therefore, recovered cardboard.
At the same time, collection volumes remained relatively tight in several regions. This limited the amount of material available to buyers and gave suppliers more support when negotiating prices.
Export demand was another important factor. Asian buyers continued purchasing US-origin OCC, helping maintain demand for available cargoes. Higher fuel, energy, transportation, and freight expenses also increased the total cost of moving material.
The monthly trend was still positive. In June 2026, US FOB OCC Grade 11 prices increased by around 4% compared with May. This suggests that the market continued to experience upward pressure toward the end of the quarter.
India OCC Price Trend
India recorded one of the larger increases during Q2 2026. Imported OCC Grade 11 prices on a CFR Nhava Sheva basis increased by approximately 21% compared with Q1.
The Indian market was supported by healthy packaging demand from FMCG, e-commerce, food, agriculture, and industrial activities. Paper mills needed sufficient recovered paper to support containerboard production, which encouraged continued procurement.
Imported material also meant that buyers were exposed to international freight and fuel costs. Higher bunker fuel, transportation, and shipping expenses increased the landed cost of OCC.
Competition for quality recovered paper in Asia added further support to supplier offers. Geopolitical uncertainty and shipping disruptions also created longer transit times and higher logistics costs.
Interestingly, the month-on-month increase in June was much smaller. India CFR OCC Grade 11 prices rose by around 0.14% compared with May. This suggests that while the quarter as a whole recorded a strong increase, the market had become more stable toward the end of June.
Spain OCC Price Trend
Spain's exported OCC Grade 95/5 prices increased by approximately 16% in Q2 2026 compared with Q1.
The Spanish market benefited from healthy demand from corrugated packaging and containerboard producers. E-commerce, FMCG, food, and industrial packaging continued to create demand for recovered cardboard.
On the supply side, collection volumes did not completely match purchasing requirements. Collection, sorting, energy, and transportation costs also increased operating expenses for recyclers and suppliers.
The June movement remained positive, with FOB OCC Grade 95/5 prices increasing by around 4% compared with May. This indicates that the market continued to have upward momentum at the end of the quarter.
UK OCC Price Trend
The UK recorded an approximately 17% increase in OCC prices during Q2 2026 compared with Q1.
Packaging, e-commerce, FMCG, food, and industrial sectors supported steady consumption. Paper mills continued to procure recovered paper to maintain containerboard production.
Supply availability was relatively tight, while collection and processing costs increased. Higher energy, fuel, and logistics expenses added further pressure to prices.
UK FD OCC Grade 95/5 prices increased by approximately 4% in June compared with May. The monthly rise indicates that the upward movement continued through the final month of Q2.
China OCC Price Trend
China's domestic OCC market also moved higher during Q2 2026. Waste Yellow Cardboard Grade A prices increased by approximately 10% compared with Q1.
Demand from packaging, e-commerce, FMCG, and consumer goods supported stronger recovered cardboard consumption. Paper mills increased procurement to secure enough feedstock for containerboard production.
Collection centres also faced a market where supply was not always sufficient to meet mill requirements. Higher transportation, energy, processing, and procurement expenses supported higher prices.
China recorded a particularly strong monthly movement in June. Waste Yellow Cardboard Grade A prices increased by around 8% compared with May. This indicates stronger short-term momentum than several other markets covered in the Q2 review.
Indonesia OCC Price Trend
Indonesia's imported OCC market increased by approximately 19% in Q2 2026 compared with Q1.
Packaging, e-commerce, FMCG, food, and industrial demand supported steady procurement by Indonesian paper mills. Imported OCC remained important for securing enough feedstock for containerboard production.
However, buyers faced higher global recovered paper costs as well as increased freight, bunker fuel, and transportation expenses. US-origin OCC availability was also relatively tight, while competition from other Asian buyers supported firmer supplier offers.
The June increase was much more limited, at around 0.13% compared with May. This suggests that the market remained firm but monthly price growth had slowed considerably by the end of the quarter.
Vietnam OCC Price Trend
Vietnam also recorded an approximately 19% increase in imported OCC prices during Q2 2026.
The market was supported by continued demand from packaging, e-commerce, FMCG, food, and industrial applications. Paper mills increased procurement to maintain sufficient feedstock and stable production.
Because the material was imported, freight and bunker fuel costs played an important role in the final CFR price. Shipping disruptions and longer transit times added further pressure to import costs.
Vietnam CFR OCC Grade 11 prices increased by around 0.13% in June compared with May. Similar to Indonesia, this relatively small monthly increase suggests that the market remained firm but had entered a more stable phase toward the end of Q2.
What the OCC Price Index Shows
The OCC Price Index for Q2 2026 can be viewed as a reflection of several connected market factors rather than just the cost of recovered cardboard itself.
Demand was one major factor. When paper mills require more OCC, procurement activity increases. Supply was another. If collection volumes are not enough to meet mill requirements, sellers can maintain firmer offers.
Operating costs also matter. Recycling is not simply about collecting cardboard. Material needs to be collected, transported, sorted, processed, stored, and delivered. Each stage can be affected by fuel, energy, labor, and transportation costs.
For imported OCC, the calculation becomes even more complicated because freight, marine fuel, shipping schedules, and port-related costs can influence the final landed price.
Therefore, changes in the OCC Price Index can provide useful context for understanding why buyers and sellers may see higher or lower prices over time.
OCC Price Forecast: What Could Happen Next?
Looking beyond Q2 2026, the direction of OCC Prices will depend on the balance between packaging demand, collection volumes, mill procurement, freight costs, and general operating expenses.
If packaging demand remains healthy and recovered paper supply continues to be relatively tight, prices could continue to receive upward support. On the other hand, an improvement in collection volumes or a slowdown in packaging consumption could reduce some of the pressure.
International markets will also remain sensitive to freight conditions. For countries that rely heavily on imported OCC, changes in shipping costs can have a noticeable effect on local prices even when the underlying recovered paper market is relatively stable.
The Q2 data also shows why monthly and quarterly trends should be considered separately. Several markets recorded strong quarterly increases but only small monthly increases in June. This may indicate that some of the major price adjustment had already taken place earlier in the quarter.
For buyers, monitoring both short-term monthly changes and broader quarterly movements can provide a clearer understanding of market direction.
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Key Factors to Watch in the OCC Market
Several factors are likely to remain important for future OCC market movements:
- Packaging demand: Continued demand from e-commerce, food, FMCG, consumer goods, and industrial packaging can support OCC consumption.
- Collection volumes: The amount of cardboard entering the recycling system directly affects supply availability.
- Mill procurement: When paper mills actively replenish inventories, competition for available OCC can increase.
- Freight and fuel costs: Higher transportation and marine fuel expenses can raise both domestic and imported OCC costs.
- Shipping conditions: Disruptions to international routes can increase transit times and create additional uncertainty for buyers.
- Energy and processing costs: Recycling, sorting, and preparation require energy and operating resources, making these costs important to the final price.
- Regional competition: Asian buyers competing for imported material can influence supplier offers and international pricing.
The Q2 2026 OCC Price Trend was clearly firm across the major markets covered in this review. Global prices increased by approximately 12% compared with Q1, while individual markets recorded different levels of growth. India increased by around 21%, Indonesia and Vietnam by around 19%, the UK by 17%, Spain by 16%, the USA by 12%, and China by 10%.
The main story behind these movements was a combination of resilient packaging demand, relatively tight supply, higher collection and processing costs, and increased transportation and freight expenses. Imported markets faced additional pressure from international shipping and bunker fuel costs.
The Q2 2026 OCC Price Chart, OCC Price Index, and market-level price movements together show a market that remained supported by real demand and constrained availability. While June monthly increases were smaller in several imported markets, overall quarterly prices remained significantly higher than in Q1.
Going forward, packaging consumption, recovered paper collection, mill procurement, logistics costs, and international shipping conditions will remain important indicators for understanding the next phase of the OCC market.
For businesses following recycled paper markets, looking at OCC Price Trends, Forecast, Chart, Prices and Index together can provide a more complete picture than focusing on a single monthly price movement. Q2 2026 demonstrated how quickly changes in demand, supply, and logistics can work together to influence the value of recovered cardboard in different regions.
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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