Paper Chemicals Global Market Report 2024

The global paper chemicals market has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $38.92 billion in 2023 to $40.12 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1%. During the historic period, the upsurge in paper consumption was fueled by several factors. Notably, there was a heightened emphasis on sustainable paper production methods, driven by an increasing demand for specialty papers. Urbanization and industrialization played pivotal roles, alongside government regulations and standards that pushed for eco-friendly practices. Moreover, consumer preferences shifted towards sustainable packaging, influencing the market. Simultaneously, the globalization of paper supply chains also contributed to the industry's growth.

The global paper chemicals market is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $45.44 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2%. In the upcoming forecast period, the growth trajectory of the paper industry is expected to align with economic expansion and evolving consumer preferences. Biodegradable packaging trends will significantly influence the market alongside the rising adoption of smart packaging applications. There's an increasing emphasis on paper recycling driven by stringent environmental regulations and the emergence of bio-based chemicals. Notable trends include the preference for functional paper additives, technological advancements in manufacturing, and a focus on sustainability through water and energy conservation. Additionally, a shift towards digitalization in paper mills and a move towards alkaline papermaking are anticipated, further augmented by customized paper chemical solutions.

The surge in the utilization of paper-based packaging stands as a driving force behind the expansion of the paper chemicals market. Known as paper packaging, these containers offer an efficient and cost-effective alternative for transportation, storage, and handling diverse items. Various paper packaging products, encompassing soup containers, plates, and bowls, contain PFAS compounds, categorized as paper chemicals. The recyclable nature of paper-based packaging significantly contributes to sustainability. For instance, Eurostat reported that Europe produced approximately 80 million tons of packaging waste, with paper and cardboard comprising the majority (41%), followed by plastic (19%), glass (19%), wood (16%), and metal (5%). Municipal recycling rates stood at 82% for paper and cardboard packaging, 78% for metal, 76% for glass, 41% for plastic, and 31% for wood packaging. This increased usage of sustainable paper-based packaging is anticipated to propel the paper chemicals market in the forecast period.

The increasing demand for wood serves as a pivotal factor propelling the growth of the paper chemicals market. Wood, a natural and versatile material used in various applications, including the production of paper chemicals, plays a significant role in the pulping process, providing cellulose fibers, tall oil, and rosin. According to the Natural Resources Institute's data from December 2022, Finland witnessed a 9% rise in total round wood usage in 2021, reaching 85.2 million cubic meters. Additionally, the utilization of by-products and other wood waste surged by 17% to 27.7 million cubic meters from the previous year. Consequently, the escalating demand for wood resources contributes to the growth of the paper chemicals market.

Technological advancements form a prominent trend within the paper chemicals market. Companies in this sector concentrate on innovating efficient paper chemicals to elevate the overall quality of manufactured paper. An instance of this is Vertex Chem, an India-based industrial chemicals company that introduced VERPAP-SA, a chemical designed to hasten the wetting of fibers, reducing pulping time, refining load, and fines within the system, thereby enhancing the paper formation process.

Major players within the paper chemicals market are committed to product innovation to ensure optimal service delivery to their clientele. One such innovation is exemplified by Valmet Polarox6, an inline measurement solution specifically for pulp bleaching. Launched by Valmet Oyj in May 2023, this technology optimizes the bleaching process by enhancing measurement and control accuracy. The Valmet Polarox6 incorporates a sensor system that precisely administers bleaching chemicals, preventing over or under-dosage and ensuring the precise chemical amounts necessary for efficient pulp bleaching.

In February 2023, Solenis, a specialty chemical manufacturer based in the US, completed the acquisition of KLK Kolb Group's paper process chemicals business for an undisclosed sum. This strategic move enables Solenis to broaden its product offerings and deliver more cost-effective solutions tailored for the needs of customers in the pulp and paper industry. KLK Kolb Group, based in Switzerland, specialized in manufacturing paper process chemicals prior to the acquisition.

Major companies operating in the paper chemicals market report are Kemira Oyj, BASF SE, Solenis International LLC, Akzo Nobel N.V., Ecolab Inc., Ashland Global Holdings Inc., Buckman Laboratories International Inc., Chemisphere Ltd., Dow Inc., Evonik Industries AG, Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC, Huntsman Corporation, Imerys S.A., Kurita Water Industries Ltd., Nalco Water, Omya Group, PPG Industries Inc., Solenis LLC, Minerals Technologies Inc., Stepan Company, Synthomer PLC, Tate & Lyle PLC, The Chemours Company, Lubrizol Corporation, The Procter & Gamble Company, Sherwin-Williams Company, WestRock Company, Zhejiang Kefeng Silicone Co. Ltd., Buckman Laboratories InternationalInc., Archroma Corporation

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the paper chemicals market in 2023. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the paper chemicals market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the paper chemicals market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The realm of paper chemicals, there exist distinct categories, namely bleaching chemicals, pulping chemicals, and functional chemicals. Bleaching chemicals are specifically employed in the bleaching of pulp and paper. Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) stands out as the most commonly utilized bleaching agent, particularly in the environmentally preferable ECF chemical pulp bleaching process. Paper chemicals exist in various forms, categorized as specialty and commodity types, catering to diverse applications across packaging and board, printing and writing, as well as hygiene product manufacturing.

This report provides paper chemicals market statistics, including paper chemicals industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a paper chemicals market share, detailed paper chemicals market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the paper chemicals industry. This paper chemicals market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The paper chemicals market consists of sales of optical brightening agent, pigment, retention agent, caustic soda, sizing agent, and wet strength additive. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.


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