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Export paper and paperboard

Writing, printing and coated board from Indian mills; neighbours, East Africa and the Gulf lead.

Free to exportHS 4802
HS code
4802
Uncoated writing and printing paper and board, including handmade paper (4802), and coated paper and board such as art paper and coated duplex board (4810).
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2 (no condition listed). Confirm the current entry on the DGFT ITC(HS) search before you sign a contract.
Registrations
3
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 662 mn
to 136 countries

What is exported

India exports maplitho and copier paper, offset printing paper, coated art paper and coated duplex and folding boxboard, plus a small trade in handmade paper. Buyers are paper merchants, printers, converters and packaging makers. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 291 million under HS 4802 (Sri Lanka, Kenya, Nepal, the USA and the UAE led) and about US$ 371 million under HS 4810 (the UAE, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the USA and Saudi Arabia led).

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Maplitho, copier and offset paperUncoated writing and printing paper in reels and sheets, A4 and legal reams (HS 4802).
  • Coated art paper and boardGloss and matt art paper, coated duplex and folding boxboard for printing and cartons (HS 4810).
  • Handmade paperCotton-rag and plant-fibre paper from Sanganer and Kalpi, sold to gift and stationery buyers.

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratVapi, Valsad and Surat — paper and board mills
  • Uttar PradeshMuzaffarnagar, Meerut and Saharanpur — paper mills; Kalpi (handmade paper)
  • Tamil NaduKarur and Erode — writing and printing paper mills
  • Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and OdishaLarge integrated pulp and paper mills
  • RajasthanSanganer (Jaipur) — handmade paper

Export packing

  • Reels wrapped in moisture-proof paper with end caps; sheets in reams, cartons and wrapped pallets.
  • Each reel or pallet labelled with grade, GSM, size, weight, lot number and mill name.
  • Wooden pallets must be ISPM 15 treated.

Who buys abroad

  • Paper merchants and stockists
  • Commercial printers and publishers
  • Carton and packaging converters
  • Office-supply distributors (copier paper)

The quality buyers ask for

Grammage
GSM within ±4–5% of nominal, or as agreed
Brightness and opacity
ISO brightness and opacity values stated by grade
Moisture
Typically 4–7% depending on grade
Size
Reel width and diameter or sheet size (A4, legal, 70×100 cm etc.)
Board properties
Caliper, stiffness, bursting strength and print surface for coated board

Certificates

  • Mill test certificateRequiredLot-wise test results; buyers expect it with every shipment.
  • FSC or PEFC chain of custodyOften askedNeeded when selling certified paper.
  • EUDR due-diligence dataRequiredFor paper and board sold into the EU.
  • Food-contact declarationsOften askedFor board used in food packaging.
  • ISO 9001 / ISO 14001Often askedCommon at larger mills; helpful with institutional buyers.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

A 20-ft container typically holds about 18–22 tonnes of paper in reels or pallets, within the line's weight limit.

How it travels

Sea from Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Chennai, Tuticorin or Kolkata; road to Nepal and Bangladesh.

Storage

Dry, covered storage; keep reels on their ends and away from moisture.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Reel or pallet label: grade, GSM, size, net and gross weight, lot or reel number, mill name, "Made in India".
  • Ream wrappers for retail copier paper with sheet count and brand.
  • FSC or PEFC logo only with a valid certificate and licence code.
Where to get it tested

The Central Pulp and Paper Research Institute (CPPRI), Saharanpur, tests paper and board. Search NABL for labs accredited for paper testing (GSM, brightness, strength).

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • CAPEXILPaper, board and paper products are listed under CAPEXIL in Appendix 2T.capexil.org ↗

Quality and checks

  • Mill test certificate for grammage (GSM), brightness, opacity, moisture, thickness and sheet size or reel width.
  • EU: paper and board are within the EU Deforestation Regulation — buyers will ask for traceability of the pulp. Confirm the current application date on the European Commission page.
  • FSC or PEFC chain-of-custody certificate when the buyer sells certified paper.
  • Board for food packaging needs food-contact compliance (for example EU framework rules or US FDA rules) — ask the mill for declarations.
How to start small

A merchant exporter can tie up with one mill for a standard grade (for example 70 GSM maplitho or A4 copier paper) and sell to paper merchants in Sri Lanka, Nepal or East Africa. Quote per tonne with clear GSM, size and ream packing, and ship a first container against LC or advance.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Moisture damage in the container — reels and pallets must be wrapped and the container dry; use desiccants on long routes.
  • GSM below the contract tolerance — buyers claim a price cut or reject the lot.
  • Some countries apply anti-dumping duties on certain paper grades — check the buyer country's trade-remedy notices.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (7)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 4802 and 4810 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. CAPEXIL — official site
  5. European Commission — Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR)
  6. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
  7. European Commission — Food contact materials (ceramics)

Trade data

Indian paper and paperboard exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 662 mn
+2.7% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -7.8%
US$ 718 mn → US$ 662 mn
Buyer countries
136
Average export price
US$ 0.65
per kg · 1.02 mn tonnes shipped · US$ 0.69 the year before
United Arab Emirates: US$ 95.4 mnSri Lanka: US$ 79.9 mnUnited States of America: US$ 54 mnKenya: US$ 50.8 mnBangladesh: US$ 47.5 mnNepal: US$ 40.5 mnSouth Africa: US$ 26.1 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 25.3 mnTanzania: US$ 25.2 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 20 mnNigeria: US$ 15.2 mnVietnam: US$ 14.6 mnGhana: US$ 10 mnItaly: US$ 9.3 mnPortugal: US$ 6.5 mnGreece: US$ 6.1 mnEgypt: US$ 6 mnJordan: US$ 5.3 mnMalaysia: US$ 5.1 mnEthiopia: US$ 5 mnCanada: US$ 5 mnMexico: US$ 4.8 mnRomania: US$ 4.5 mnKuwait: US$ 4.4 mnThailand: US$ 4.1 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 95.4 mnUnited Arab EmiratesSri Lanka: US$ 79.9 mnSri LankaUnited States of America: US$ 54 mnUnited States of AmericaKenya: US$ 50.8 mnKenyaBangladesh: US$ 47.5 mnBangladeshNepal: US$ 40.5 mnNepalSouth Africa: US$ 26.1 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 25.3 mnTanzania: US$ 25.2 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 20 mnNigeria: US$ 15.2 mnVietnam: US$ 14.6 mnGhana: US$ 10 mnItaly: US$ 9.3 mnPortugal: US$ 6.5 mnGreece: US$ 6.1 mnEgypt: US$ 6 mnJordan: US$ 5.3 mnMalaysia: US$ 5.1 mnEthiopia: US$ 5 mnCanada: US$ 5 mnMexico: US$ 4.8 mnRomania: US$ 4.5 mnKuwait: US$ 4.4 mnThailand: US$ 4.1 mnIndia
Where Indian paper and paperboard goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 580 mn5802020-212021-22: US$ 1.15 bn1.2k2021-222022-23: US$ 1.04 bn1.0k2022-232023-24: US$ 686 mn6862023-242024-25: US$ 718 mn7182024-252025-26: US$ 662 mn6622025-26
India’s paper and paperboard 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 2020-21 — a 58% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 0.61 per kg0.612021-22: US$ 0.77 per kg2022-23: US$ 0.97 per kg0.972024-25: US$ 0.69 per kg2025-26: US$ 0.65 per kg0.652020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian paper and paperboard · 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$ 580 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 1.15 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 1.04 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 686 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 718 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 662 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 695 mn (US$ 462 mn – US$ 1.04 bn)6952026-272027-28: US$ 672 mn (US$ 426 mn – US$ 1.06 bn)6722027-28
India’s paper and paperboard exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 672 mn

Likely range US$ 426 mn to US$ 1.06 bn.

Trend
-3.3% a year
Fit (R²)
0.05 — weak, read with care
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 Arab EmiratesUS$ 95.4 mn-22%
2Sri LankaUS$ 79.9 mn-4.4%
3United States of AmericaUS$ 54 mn-19.6%
4KenyaUS$ 50.8 mn-4.7%
5BangladeshUS$ 47.5 mn+5.7%
6NepalUS$ 40.5 mn-8.3%
7South AfricaUS$ 26.1 mn+26.1%
8Saudi ArabiaUS$ 25.3 mn+4.4%
9TanzaniaUS$ 25.2 mn+13.5%
10United KingdomUS$ 20 mn-12.9%
11NigeriaUS$ 15.2 mn-29.8%
12VietnamUS$ 14.6 mn-18%

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. GhanaUS$ 6.4 mn → US$ 10 mn+56.4%
  2. South AfricaUS$ 20.7 mn → US$ 26.1 mn+26.1%
  3. TanzaniaUS$ 22.2 mn → US$ 25.2 mn+13.5%

Low demand

  1. TürkiyeUS$ 6.7 mn → US$ 2.7 mn-60.1%
  2. KuwaitUS$ 7 mn → US$ 4.4 mn-37.8%
  3. CanadaUS$ 7.2 mn → US$ 5 mn-30.1%
  4. NigeriaUS$ 21.7 mn → US$ 15.2 mn-29.8%
  5. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 122 mn → US$ 95.4 mn-22%
  6. United States of AmericaUS$ 67.2 mn → US$ 54 mn-19.6%
  7. VietnamUS$ 17.8 mn → US$ 14.6 mn-18%
  8. United KingdomUS$ 22.9 mn → US$ 20 mn-12.9%

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
Multiply papr and paprbord4810 92 00 · Paper and paperboard, multi-ply, coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances only, for non-graphic…US$ 180 mn+6%3,75,170 tonnesUS$ 0.48 per kgwas US$ 0.50
Uncoated paper and paperboard, printing, writing or graphic, 10% or less by weight of mechanical or… — other paper4802 57 90US$ 117 mn-22.5%1,74,587 tonnesUS$ 0.67 per kgwas US$ 0.75
Other coated papr and pprbrd (not mltiply)4810 99 00 · Paper and paperboard, coated with inorganic substances only, whether or not surface-coloured…US$ 95.6 mn-15.8%87,696 tonnesUS$ 1.09 per kgwas US$ 1.13
Uncoated paper and paperboard, printing, writing or graphic, 10% or less by weight of mechanical or… — other paper4802 55 90US$ 69.6 mn-0.8%1,06,625 tonnesUS$ 0.65 per kgwas US$ 0.73
Others-of-papr/paprbord other than rolls/sheets4810 19 90 · Paper and paperboard, coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances, for printing/writing/graphics…US$ 44.6 mn-18.4%82,658 tonnesUS$ 0.54 per kgwas US$ 0.57
Uncoated paper and paperboard, printing, writing or graphic, 10% or less by weight of mechanical or… — litho and offset paper4802 56 10US$ 25.6 mn-0.9%35,127 tonnesUS$ 0.73 per kgwas US$ 0.78
Others-of-papr paprbord used for writing etc. contng fbr by mecnl/chemi-mecnl pross not more than 10% by weight of total fbr in rol4810 13 90 · Paper and paperboard, coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances, for printing & writing, graphics…US$ 21.5 mn-18.6%39,919 tonnesUS$ 0.54 per kgwas US$ 0.55
Uncoated paper and paperboard, printing, writing or graphic, 10% or less by weight of mechanical or… — other paper4802 56 90US$ 21.3 mn-0.7%25,069 tonnesUS$ 0.85 per kgwas US$ 0.87
Paper and paperboard, coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances, for printing/writing/graphics… — art paper4810 19 20US$ 15.3 mn+11.7%19,361 tonnesUS$ 0.79 per kgwas US$ 0.92
Uncoated paper and paperboard, over 10% by weight of mechanical or chemi-mechanical processed fibre, in rolls — poster paper4802 61 20US$ 14 mn+10.9%13,889 tonnesUS$ 1.01 per kgwas US$ 1.12
Uncoated paper and paperboard, printing, writing or graphic, 10% or less by weight of mechanical or… — litho and offset paper4802 55 10US$ 8.5 mn-12.3%12,204 tonnesUS$ 0.69 per kgwas US$ 0.73
Others-of-other papr and paprbord in sheets of whch>10%by weight of totl fbr cntnt with one side<435 mm and other side <297 mm4802 62 90 · Uncoated paper and paperboard, over 10% by weight of mechanical or chemi-mechanical processed fibre, in…US$ 6.8 mn+38.3%5,151 tonnesUS$ 1.33 per kgwas US$ 1.20
Hand-made paper or paperboard — hand made paper4802 10 10US$ 6.5 mn+64.4%1,884 tonnesUS$ 3.46 per kgwas US$ 3.53
Other papr and paprbord for wrtng etc. of whch >=10% by weight of totl fbrs cntnt cnssts of fibrs obtnd by a mchncl prcss4810 29 00 · Paper and paperboard, coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances only, having more than 10% of…US$ 6.5 mn-31%12,407 tonnesUS$ 0.52 per kgwas US$ 0.54

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$ 43.5 bn
2023
India among exporters
#16
of 150 countries
India’s share of world exports
1.7%
US$ 736 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 41.3 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 5.25 bn 12.5%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 4.84 bn 11.5%
  3. 3SwedenUS$ 4.4 bn 10.5%
  4. 4FinlandUS$ 3.8 bn 9%
  5. 5IndonesiaUS$ 2.56 bn 6.1%
  6. 6USAUS$ 2.2 bn 5.2%
  7. 7CanadaUS$ 1.95 bn 4.6%
  8. 8ItalyUS$ 1.55 bn 3.7%
  9. 9AustriaUS$ 1.49 bn 3.5%
  10. 10PortugalUS$ 1.34 bn 3.2%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 4.54 bn 10.4%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 4.23 bn 9.7%
  3. 3FranceUS$ 2.47 bn 5.7%
  4. 4United KingdomUS$ 2.18 bn 5%
  5. 5ItalyUS$ 1.71 bn 3.9%
  6. 6PolandUS$ 1.61 bn 3.7%
  7. 7MexicoUS$ 1.48 bn 3.4%
  8. 8TürkiyeUS$ 1.27 bn 2.9%
  9. 9SpainUS$ 1.17 bn 2.7%
  10. 10ChinaUS$ 1.14 bn 2.6%

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$ 4.95 bnIndia 1.5% · gap US$ 4.87 bn
GermanyUS$ 4.15 bnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 4.14 bn
FranceUS$ 2.28 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 2.28 bn
United KingdomUS$ 2.18 bnIndia 0.9% · gap US$ 2.16 bn
ItalyUS$ 1.72 bnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 1.71 bn
ChinaUS$ 1.26 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 1.26 bn
VietnamUS$ 1.2 bnIndia 3.4% · gap US$ 1.16 bn
SpainUS$ 1.15 bnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 1.15 bn
CanadaUS$ 1.01 bnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 1 bn
NetherlandsUS$ 983 mnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 982 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

The largest paper exporters are in Europe, North America, China and Indonesia, with big integrated mills. India is a mid-sized producer whose exports go mainly to South Asia, East Africa and the Gulf, where freight from India is short and Indian grades suit local printers. Demand for writing and printing paper is flat or falling in rich countries but still growing in developing markets with rising school enrolment. Packaging board demand grows with e-commerce and food packaging. Openings are in copier and maplitho paper for African and South Asian merchants, coated board for carton makers, and handmade paper for gift markets.

  1. 01Pick grade and mill

    Choose a standard grade and a mill with export experience.

  2. 02Match the buyer's spec

    Agree GSM, size, brightness and packing in writing.

  3. 03Register

    IEC, GST LUT and RCMC from CAPEXIL.

  4. 04Contract and payment

    Price per tonne FOB or CIF; LC or advance for a new buyer.

  5. 05Produce and test

    Get the mill test certificate per lot; arrange pre-shipment inspection if needed.

  6. 06Ship

    Load dry containers, file the shipping bill, claim RoDTEP and drawback.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting paper and paperboard

Can a trader export paper without a mill?
Yes, as a merchant exporter buying from a mill. Make sure the mill's test certificate and invoice match the shipping documents.
Which council covers paper?
CAPEXIL, which lists paper, board and paper products in Appendix 2T.
What is the RoDTEP rate?
Mostly 1% of FOB for 4802 and 4810 lines; handmade paper gets 2.3% capped at ₹3.1 per kg.
Does EUDR cover paper?
Yes, pulp, paper and printed products are in scope. EU buyers will ask the mill for traceability of the wood fibre.
How do I protect paper from moisture?
Use moisture-proof wrapping, dry containers and desiccant bags, and avoid loading in rain.
Sources (6)
  1. CAPEXIL — official site
  2. European Commission — Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR)
  3. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
  4. Central Pulp and Paper Research Institute (CPPRI), Saharanpur
  5. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories
  6. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10.10.2024 (Notification 32/2024-25); rates continued to 31.12.2026 by Notification 41/2026-27

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