Unfinished Paper Market Report 2026

The unfinished paper market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $357.96 billion in 2025 to $375.74 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of packaging and printing industries, availability of forest-based raw materials, growth in newsprint demand historically, adoption of chemical pulping techniques, expansion of paperboard production.

The unfinished paper market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $469.79 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand from sustainable packaging applications, rising substitution of plastic with paper materials, expansion of agro-based packaging demand, growing investments in efficient paper mills, increasing focus on circular paper economy. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for recyclable paper grades, rising use of lightweight packaging paper, growing adoption of energy-efficient pulping methods, expansion of specialty paper applications, enhanced focus on fiber yield optimization.

The rising consumer awareness of waste reduction is expected to propel the growth of the unfinished paper market going forward. Consumer awareness of waste reduction refers to the public's understanding and recognition of the environmental impact of waste generation and the importance of minimizing consumption and disposal of materials. This awareness is increasing due to environmental education and sustainability campaigns, as governments and organizations promote eco-conscious behaviors through public initiatives that highlight the urgency of effective waste management and encourage responsible consumption. Growing consumer awareness of waste reduction drives demand for unfinished paper products, as environmentally conscious consumers seek minimally processed, recyclable alternatives that reduce resource use and support sustainable manufacturing practices. For instance, in January 2025, according to Eurostat, a Luxembourg-based statistical office of the European Union, in 2023, each person in the EU generated an average of 511 kg of municipal waste, and 48% of this waste was recycled through material recycling and composting. Therefore, rising consumer awareness of waste reduction is driving the growth of the unfinished paper market.

The expansion of the e-commerce industry is expected to propel the growth of the unfinished paper market going forward. E-commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods and services over the Internet or through electronic channels. Unfinished paper is used for packaging materials, including boxes, labels, and inserts, ensuring the safe and efficient delivery of products to customers. For instance, in August 2023, according to the United States Census Bureau, a US-based government agency, the consumer value of retail e-commerce sales in the United States for the second quarter of 2023 was $277.6 billion, an increase of 2.1% from the first quarter of 2023. This represents a growth rate of 7.5% from the second quarter of 2022. Therefore, the expansion of the e-commerce industry is driving the growth of the unfinished paper market.

Major companies operating in the global unfinished paper market are focusing on developing high-performance kraft base papers such as semi-extensible smooth brown substrates to enhance converting efficiency, print quality, and strength across packaging and industrial applications. High-performance semi-extensible kraft base papers are engineered paper substrates designed to deliver superior strength, extensibility, puncture resistance, and surface smoothness, enabling improved coating coverage, better printability, and efficient performance on converting and filling lines while supporting recyclability. For instance, in August 2025, Mondi Group plc, a UK-based packaging and paper company, launched AdVantage Smooth Brown Semi Extensible, a next-generation kraft base paper offering exceptional strength and extensibility with high puncture resistance, a calendered smooth surface for enhanced coating and print results compared with conventional natural brown papers, and responsibly sourced fresh fibres that are recyclable in standard EU paper-recycling streams.

Major companies operating in the unfinished paper market are Oji Holdings Corporation, Nine Dragons Paper Limited, UPM-Kymmene Oyj, Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd., Rengo Co. Ltd., Shandong Chenming Paper Holdings Limited, Stora Enso Oyj, Domtar Corporation, Metsä Board Oyj, PT. Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk., Sappi Limited, Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited, Svenska Cellulosa AB, Smurfit Kappa Group plc, Mondi plc, Georgia-Pacific LLC, International Paper Company, WestRock Company, Verso Corporation, Resolute Forest Products Inc., Catalyst Paper Corporation, Burgo Group SpA, Asia Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd., Norske Skog ASA, ND Paper LLC.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the unfinished paper market in 2025. North America was the second largest region in the unfinished paper market. The regions covered in the unfinished paper market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the unfinished paper market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The unfinished paper market consists of sales of semi-chemical pulping, natural pulping, wood pulp, straw pulp, bomb pulp, and waste paper pulp. 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.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.