OCC 11 and OCC 12 are the two most-traded corrugated grades — and the two most confused. Both are recovered cardboard, but OCC 12 (Double-Sorted OCC) is a cleaner, premium grade. This guide breaks down the ISRI specs, contamination limits, pricing and which grade your paper mill should buy.
OCC 11 is standard Old Corrugated Containers — baled used boxes collected from mixed commercial and retail sources. OCC 12 is Double-Sorted OCC (DS OCC) — corrugated that has been sorted twice to remove contamination, giving cleaner fibre, lower moisture and fewer rejects. OCC 12 costs more, but yields more usable fibre per tonne.
| Parameter | OCC 11 | OCC 12 (DS OCC) |
|---|---|---|
| ISRI Grade | Grade 11 | Grade 12 |
| Full Name | Old Corrugated Containers | Double-Sorted Old Corrugated Containers |
| Prohibitive Materials | ≤ 1% | ≤ 0.5% |
| Total Outthrows | ≤ 5% | ≤ 2% |
| Moisture | < 12% | < 10% |
| Typical Source | Mixed commercial / retail | Supermarkets, DCs, industrial |
| Fibre Yield at Mill | Good | Higher — fewer rejects |
| Availability | Very high | Moderate — extra sorting needed |
| Price | Baseline | Premium (+5–15%) |
OCC 12 is not a different material — it is OCC 11 that has gone through an additional sorting stage. The first sort happens at collection; the second sort removes the typical OCC contaminants:
The result is a furnish that repulps faster, produces fewer rejects, and gives a higher usable-fibre yield per tonne — which is why mills running high-strength or premium linerboard will pay the OCC 12 premium.
Yield matters more than price per tonne. A mill comparing OCC 11 and OCC 12 should look at cost per tonne of usable fibre, not just the landed price. OCC 12's lower outthrows and prohibitives often offset its premium once reject-handling and downtime are factored in.
Watch the spec, not just the label. "OCC" alone is ambiguous — always confirm the ISRI grade (11 or 12), prohibitive and outthrow limits, and moisture cap in writing before purchase. AVT LLC states the exact grade and spec on every offer and Certificate of Analysis.
Accel Venture Trading LLC exports both OCC 11 and OCC 12 from Dubai and across the GCC to 100+ paper mills in India. Every shipment ships with full documentation — Bill of Lading, Certificate of Analysis, fumigation and phytosanitary certificates — and can be tracked live through the AcceTrack portal. We ship 280+ containers every month on CIF India terms.
OCC 11 is standard Old Corrugated Containers (prohibitives ≤1%, outthrows ≤5%). OCC 12 is Double-Sorted OCC — cleaner and drier, with prohibitives ≤0.5% and outthrows ≤2%. OCC 12 commands a price premium for its higher fibre yield.
OCC 12 is Double-Sorted Old Corrugated Containers under ISRI specifications — corrugated sorted twice to remove contamination, usually from supermarkets, distribution centres and industrial sources rather than mixed municipal waste.
Yes — typically 5 to 15 percent above OCC 11, because the double-sorting produces cleaner, drier fibre with fewer rejects at the mill.
Standard linerboard and medium mills usually buy OCC 11 for best volume-to-cost. Premium and high-strength board mills prefer OCC 12 for higher fibre yield and lower reject rates. AVT LLC supplies both CIF India.
Yes — Accel Venture Trading LLC exports both grades from Dubai and the GCC with full documentation, fumigation and live AcceTrack shipment tracking.
Tell us your grade, destination port and monthly volume. We'll send current CIF India pricing and availability within 24 hours.
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