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Global Paper & Pulp Mills Industry Data and Analysis
The industry has demonstrated steady growth, with specific growth trends driven by rising demand for pulp and paper products due to increasing population and economic activities. Over the past two decades, the industry experienced varying growth rates, including a 1.2% CAGR growth during the current period. In 2025, industry revenue is expected to grow by 1.6%, reaching $746.0 billion, despite the challenges posed by increased digitization and recent economic uncertainties. China has emerged as a significant player, contributing substantially to global production, while the US and Europe have seen their market shares decline as they transition toward service-oriented economies.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released April 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry operates under the industry code C1511-GL. Paper and pulp mills produce a variety of bulk paper, paperboard and pulp input materials using woodchips, clay, lime, dyes, chemical resins, bleaches and other inputs. Pulp mills separate cellulose fibers from wood and other recyclable materials to make pulp and paper mills use this pulp to manufacture paper products. Some paper mills manufacture paper and paperboard through their own separate pulp mill processes while others choose to purchase pulp from upstream pulp mills. Related terms covered in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry include market pulp, newsprint, coated paper, unbleached kraft paper, black liquor, containerboard, linerboard and effluent.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry include Chemical wood pulp, Other paper and paperboard and Printing and writing papers.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry include Smurfit Kappa Group plc, International Paper Company and UPM-Kymmene (UK) Ltd.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry in 2026?
The market size of the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry is $746.0bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry in 2025?
There are 9,970 businesses in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry?
The Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry is likely to be impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry?
The Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
Has the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry has been growing at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry?
The biggest companies operating in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry are Smurfit Kappa Group plc, International Paper Company and UPM-Kymmene (UK) Ltd
What does the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry include?
Mechanical wood pulp and Semichemical wood pulp are part of the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry?
The company holding the most market share in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry is Smurfit Kappa Group plc.
How competitive is the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Global Paper & Pulp Mills industry.
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