Thermal Paper Market Report 2025

The thermal paper market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $4.74 billion in 2024 to $5.16 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of banking and financial services, logistics and transportation sector growth, healthcare industry demand, government initiatives for digital receipts, convenience in label printing, environmental and cost considerations.

The thermal paper market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.3 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expansion of smart packaging, rise of contactless payment systems, demand in emerging economies, shift towards sustainable thermal paper, customization and branding needs. Major trends in the forecast period include advancements in printing technologies, increasing use of BPA-free thermal papers, customization and specialty thermal papers, growing retail and point-of-sale (pos) applications, collaborations and partnerships.

The increasing demand for sustainable labeling practices is driving the growth of the thermal paper market. There is a significant need for sustainable direct thermal solutions within the e-commerce and logistics sectors. As the demand for sustainable labeling standards rises, the industry is expected to shift towards more renewable methods, such as recycled direct thermal papers. For example, in February 2022, a survey conducted by Cargill Incorporated, a US-based food corporation, revealed that more than half (55%) of consumers worldwide are more inclined to purchase packaged food items that feature a sustainability label promise. Additionally, 37% of the 550 American respondents stated that a sustainability claim would influence their purchasing decisions, marking a six-point increase from 2019. Thus, the demand for sustainable labeling practices is anticipated to significantly boost the thermal paper market in the coming years.

The expansion of the e-commerce industry is expected to further propel the growth of the thermal paper market. Thermal paper is widely used in the e-commerce sector for printing shipping labels, order receipts, and packing slips. It provides cost-effective, efficient, and convenient solutions for transaction-related documents, barcode printing, and mobile printing devices, catering to the dynamic needs of the fast-paced online retail environment. For instance, in August 2024, a report published by the Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce, a US-based government agency, indicated that U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the second quarter of 2024 reached approximately $291.6 billion, reflecting a 1.3% increase from the first quarter of 2024. Total retail sales for the same period were estimated at $1.82 trillion, a 0.5% rise from the previous quarter. Compared to the second quarter of 2023, e-commerce sales grew by 6.7%, while total retail sales increased by 2.1%. E-commerce represented 16% of total retail sales in the second quarter of 2024. Consequently, the growth of the e-commerce industry is driving the expansion of the thermal paper market.

Technological advancement is a prominent trend gaining traction in the thermal paper market. Leading companies in this sector are focused on creating technologically innovative products to maintain their competitive edge. For example, in August 2022, VFP Ink Technologies, a Germany-based firm specializing in high-tech industrial inks and varnishes, introduced the 1470579 Blue Clean 70 g/m², a new chemical-free thermal paper. This product is suitable for use as a food-contact adhesive material. It can be printed on standard direct thermal printers and does not require any developers. The new material features a four-layer construction consisting of plain paper, a black pigment layer, an opaque functional layer that imparts the paper's blue coloration, and a protective layer against mechanical damage. When heated, the opaque layer becomes translucent, revealing the black layer beneath, which is how the printed image is created.

Leading companies in the thermal paper market are innovating new products, such as chemical-free thermal paper, to enhance their market competitiveness. This chemical-free thermal paper is designed for direct food contact, providing a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional white varieties. For instance, in August 2022, VPF GmbH & Co KG, a Germany-based manufacturer of paints and adhesives, launched the 1470579 Blue Clean 70 g/m². The innovative four-layer design includes plain paper, a black pigment layer, an opaque functional layer that creates the unique blue color, and a protective layer against mechanical damage. It does not require any chemical developers. The printed image is generated as the opaque layer turns transparent when heated, exposing the black layer underneath. Blue Clean thermal paper offers high printability, resistance, legibility, and durability, with a print image that can last for at least 35 years without fading.

In September 2023, Quantum Capital Partners, a Germany-based investment firm, acquired the Flensburg paper mill from Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe GmbH. This acquisition enhanced QCP's network and established a center of expertise in the paper industry, complementing their prior investments and solidifying their market position. Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe GmbH is a Germany-based specialty paper manufacturer that focuses on producing coated specialty papers, including thermal paper, inkjet paper, and carbonless paper, serving a variety of applications such as receipts, labels, and packaging.

Major companies operating in the thermal paper market are Ricoh Corporation, Oji Holdings Corporation, Appvion InCorporated, Jujo Thermal Limited, Lecta Group, Koehler Paper Group, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe GmbH, Hansol Europe BV, Gold HuaSheng Paper Company Limited, Papierfabrik Wattens GmbH & Co. KG, Henan Province JiangHe Paper Company Limited, Thermal Solutions International Inc., Rotolificio BergamasCo. Srl, PM Company LLC, Nakagawa Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Siam Paper Co. Ltd., Nantong Xiujun Imp.& Exp.Co. Ltd., Zhejiang Youcheng New Materials Co. Ltd., Shanxi Oceano Paper Co. Ltd., Tianjin Jinlida Paper Co. Ltd., Jiangsu Guoli Science & Technology Co. Ltd., Xiandai Paper Co. Ltd., PapiCo. Ltd., Guofeng Fine Paper Co. Ltd., RP Paper Impex Pvt. Ltd., Apex Paper International Inc., Stellar Paper Products Private Limited, Daio Paper Corporation, TOPPAN PRINTING COMPANY Ltd., Canon Inc.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the thermal paper market in 2024. The regions covered in the thermal paper market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the thermal paper market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Thermal paper is a specialized type of paper used for inkless printing, particularly in thermal printers or lightweight devices like cash registers, adding machines, and credit card terminals. It's cost-effective due to low energy usage and minimal maintenance requirements.

There are two primary types of thermal paper such as top-coated and non-top-coated. Top-coated thermal paper includes direct thermal labels with added protective coating. These papers utilize various technologies like direct thermal, thermal transfer, and others, with thickness ranging from 60-80 microns or 80-90 microns. They find applications in POS receipts, lottery and gaming tickets, labels and tags, and are utilized across industries such as retail, healthcare, packaging, printing, entertainment, transit, and more.

The thermal paper market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides thermal paper market statistics, including thermal paper industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a thermal paper market share, detailed thermal paper market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the thermal paper industry. This thermal paper 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 thermal paper market consists of sales of conventional thermal paper and synthetic-base thermal papers. 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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