Relatively low-cost raw materials and energy, combined with modern facilities, make U.S. paper producers competitive worldwide. They accounted for 18 percent of world paper exports in 1992. It is more economical for the industry to produce finished products domestically rather than invest in facilities outside of North America. Canada has the world's most competitive paper products industry, followed by the United States and the Scandinavian countries. Exports are total f.a.s.
Imports are customs value.
The U.S. industry has met or exceeded mandatory environmental targets. As a result, dioxin generation has been reduced by more than 90 percent. Other regions, including Asia and Latin America, have yet to reach this high level of environmental capital outlays for improvement of the environment. Therefore, the lack of environmental regulations in these countries gives them a distinct cost competitive advantage. In 1993, the industry attained a wastepaper recovery rate of 42 percent, and recovered paper accounted for over 30 percent of fiber used in paper and paperboard mills.