Paper industry in China - statistics & facts
China has the largest paper industry in the world by far. The country produced almost 130 million metric tons of paper and cardboard in 2023, accounting for one third of global production. Despite those impressive figures, industry revenues and profits have come under pressure in recent years, indicating a challenging environment for China’s paper producing companies.
With domestic consumption generally matching production, China’s paper industry is mainly focused on the home market. The country was only the fourth largest exporter of paper and cardboard in 2022, selling mainly printing and writing paper as well as tissue paper, while importing growing amounts of liner board. However, China is dependent on foreign resources and imports large amounts of paper wood and pulp, with pulp imports reaching nearly 37 million metric tons in 2023. Recently, new pulp lines have been planned to reduce reliance on foreign pulp and gain a higher share of the value chain.
Development of China’s paper industry
China’s paper industry looks back at a time of rapid expansion between 2001 and 2011, when total output more than tripled. After years of adjustments, growth accelerated again after 2018. Main contributors to growth were the packaging sector, household and sanitary papers, as well as specialized paper products. Case materials alone, including corrugated paperboard and liner board, accounted for 45 percent of output in 2023. In recent years, environmentally friendly packaging and plastic-free products were a general trend contributing to higher demand for paper products.With domestic consumption generally matching production, China’s paper industry is mainly focused on the home market. The country was only the fourth largest exporter of paper and cardboard in 2022, selling mainly printing and writing paper as well as tissue paper, while importing growing amounts of liner board. However, China is dependent on foreign resources and imports large amounts of paper wood and pulp, with pulp imports reaching nearly 37 million metric tons in 2023. Recently, new pulp lines have been planned to reduce reliance on foreign pulp and gain a higher share of the value chain.
