Pulp Mills Market Report 2025

The pulp mills market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $70.99 billion in 2024 to $76.12 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to paper and pulp demand, forestry and timber industry, global economic trends, packaging industry requirements, and regulatory compliance.

The pulp mills market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $97.84 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to evolving packaging solutions, sustainable pulp production, global shift towards e-commerce, bio-based products demand, and circular economy initiatives. Major trends in the forecast period include a focus on energy efficiency and emission reduction, integration of digitalization for process optimization, development of biodegradable and specialty pulp products, global expansion and diversification of pulp markets, and emphasis on circular economy models in pulp production.

The anticipated growth of the pulp mills market is expected to be driven by the increasing consumer preference for pulp-based products. This shift in consumer inclination is attributed to the sustainability, biodegradability, cost-effectiveness, and versatility of pulp-based products. With growing environmental consciousness, consumers are opting for sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives over plastic, leading to an increased demand for products made from pulp. For instance, a June 2022 article by the Natural Resources Defense Council in the USA, titled 'Issue with Tissue 2.0,' highlights that 75% of products in the tissue industry are made from pulp, and around 60% of consumers prefer tissues made from natural fiber. This consumer preference for pulp-based products is a significant driver for the growth of the pulp mills market.

The contributing factor to the growth of the pulp mills market is the rise in e-commerce sales. The e-commerce industry relies on pulp mills for packaging materials due to their cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and the ability to create sturdy shipping containers. The projected annual growth of the UK's e-commerce revenues by 12.6% by 2025, reaching a market value of $285.6 billion, according to the International Trade Administration in November 2023, reflects the global trend of increasing e-commerce activities. As of January 2021, e-commerce already accounted for 36.3% of total retail in the UK, ranking third globally after China and the US. This surge in e-commerce sales is a key factor driving the growth of the pulp mills market.

Sustainability is emerging as a key trend in the pulp mills market, particularly driven by the focus on sustainable packaging among manufacturers in the industry. Companies operating in the manufacturing and packaging sectors are increasingly prioritizing sustainable packaging solutions in response to growing concerns about environmentally friendly practices. For example, in September 2022, Stora Enso, a Finland-based manufacturer of pulp, paper, and forest products, introduced Papira. Papira is a lightweight foam made from pulp fibers, serving as a recyclable alternative to packing foam derived from fossil fuels. Notably, Papira is reported to be biodegradable and does not cause pollution if it ends up in the environment, aligning with sustainability goals.

Major companies in the pulp mills industry are also adopting a strategic partnership approach to enhance their market presence, leverage technological advancements, and improve sustainability practices. Strategic partnerships involve companies collaborating to leverage each other's strengths and resources for mutual benefits and success. In September 2022, CMPC, a US-based manufacturer of pulp, wood, papers, tissue products, and paper products, partnered with Foresight Canada, a Canadian cleantech accelerator. This collaboration aimed to launch the Pulp Mill Sludge Efficiency Challenge, seeking innovative dehydration systems capable of converting liquid pulp and paper mill sludge into dry, reusable materials. This initiative contributes to the recovery of valuable fibers from wastewater sludges generated during the manufacturing process.

In February 2023, First Quality Enterprises Inc., a US-based consumer product manufacturer and distributor, acquired a pulp mill in Dryden from Domtar Corporation for an undisclosed amount. This strategic acquisition expands their operations and grants the Dryden pulp mill the capability to produce high-quality Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp for customers in the North American region. Domtar Corporation, the seller, is a US-based wood fiber-based paper and pulp product manufacturer. This acquisition reflects a strategic move to strengthen capabilities and increase regional market influence in the pulp mills sector.

Major companies operating in the pulp mills market market include International Paper Company, Stora Enso Pulp AB, WestRock Company, Georgia-Pacific Pulp and Paper LLC, Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd., Oji Holdings Corporation, Sappi Global - South African Pulp and Paper Industries Limited, UPM-Kymmene Corporation, Sonoco Products Company, Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A., PT. Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk, BillerudKorsnas AB, Canny Tissue Paper Industry LLC, Gulf Paper Manufacturing FZCO, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited, Smurfit Kappa Group plc, Mondi Group plc, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA, Metsä Board Corporation, Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited, Rottneros AB, Domtar Corporation, Canfor Pulp Products Inc., Mercer International Inc., Resolute Forest Products Inc., Asia Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd., Fibria Celulose S.A., Klabin S.A., CMPC Celulosa S.A., Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., Eldorado Brasil Celulose S.A., SCA Tissue North America LLC, Clearwater Paper Corporation, Verso Corporation, P.H. Glatfelter Company, Catalyst Paper Corporation, Heinzel Holding GmbH.

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

A pulp mill is a manufacturing facility dedicated to producing pulp from raw materials such as wood chips or fiber crops. This pulp serves as the fundamental material for the manufacturing of various paper products, including paper, tissue, and other related items.

The primary source types for pulp mills are categorized into wood pulp or virgin fiber pulp, non-wood pulp, and recycled pulp or de-inked pulp. Wood pulp or virgin pulp is derived from fibrous materials obtained from wood through mechanical or chemical pulping processes. This category includes various grades such as mechanical, chemical, and semi-chemical. These different grades find applications in industries such as packaging manufacturing, publishing, stationery manufacturing, and the production of sanitary and household products. The diverse characteristics of these pulp types cater to the specific needs of manufacturers across different sectors.

The pulp mills market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides pulp mills market statistics, including pulp mills industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a pulp mills market share, detailed pulp mills market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the pulp mills industry. This pulp mills 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 pulp mill market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing softwood, hardwood, and paper, including printing paper, newsprint, and packaging materials. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

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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