Specialty pulp and paper chemicals market

GMI Research analysis indicates that the Specialty Pulp & Paper Chemicals Market size was estimated at USD 22.3 billion in 2022 and is slated to register a single digit CAGR of 2.9% over the forecast period and is projected to reach USD 28.0 billion in 2030.

Major Specialty Pulp & Paper Chemicals Market Drivers

The global specialty pulp & paper chemicals market is predicted to grow due to the growing demand for bleaching and functional chemicals used in the manufacturing of specialty paper and high demand for high-performance paper products. Additionally, the need for personal hygiene paper also increased due to an increase in awareness among individuals further presenting a positive market growth of specialty pulp & paper chemical. With the rise in environmental awareness, the need for eco-friendly and sustainable packaging paper is also growing, further propelling the need for paper packaging. Similarly, due to the high rise in international environmental concerns and the growing demand to decrease harmful emissions, sustainable and flexible packaging is increasingly used by personal care, healthcare, and food and beverages industries.

Increased demand for flexible paper packaging because of rising customer awareness concerning the hazardous effects of plastic on the surroundings and atmosphere coupled with the sustainable and economical nature of paper packaging, is predicted to foster the specialty pulp & papers chemical market growth globally. In addition, the usage of specialty papers including diazo paper, tissue papers, envelops, magazines, and several others also increases the need for specialty chemicals, which results in propelling the global specialty pulp & paper chemicals market. The significant rise in the usage of functional chemicals to develop paper performance by adding special features & and properties to enhance production, develop competitive benefits, and establish customer advantages in everyday products drive global market growth. Moreover, the substantial increase in usage of recycled paper across the paper industry further develops the global specialty pulp and paper chemical market growth in the forecast period.

Additionally, the substantial usage of functional chemicals in a variety of applications involving printing, decoration, and packaging raises the specialty pulp and paper chemicals requirement. The rising prevalence of functional chemicals, involving fluorescent whitening, sizing agents, and dry-strength additives, is presenting a boost to the specialty pulp & paper chemicals market growth. The increased need for these chemicals is propelled by their versatility in manufacturing paper with different characteristics such as brightness, size, texture, and several others. Furthermore, these chemicals enhance energy efficiency, raw material usage, productivity, and water-reduced production and functional costs. This has led to a boost in the specialty pulp & paper chemicals market. The growing usage of new enzymes in the introduction of specialty pulp presents profitable opportunities for market players in the specialty pulp & paper industry in the forecast period.

Contrarily, fluctuations in the price of raw materials and strict regulation regarding the use of chemicals for manufacturing of specialty is expected to hamper the specialty pulp & paper chemicals market. In addition, growing concerns about their negative effects on the environment and human health, is predicted to restrain the specialty pulp and paper chemical market growth in the forecast period. Whereas the increasing demand for packaging, as well as sanitary and household grades of paper, is a key driver fostering the growth of the global specialty pulp and paper chemicals market share in the forecast period. Furthermore, the specialty pulp and paper chemical market share is further driven by the growing emphasis on pulp and paper manufacturers on developing profitability, fulfilling customer demands, and adopting technological developments, specifically to comply with safety, health, and environmental regulations during the coming period.

Based on Product, the functional chemicals segment registered the highest market growth

Functional chemicals contain latex, pigment, dye, binders, starch, and several other coating agents. The growth of this segment is contributed by its extensive usage. The usage of it to develop the performance and properties of specialty paper including color, water repellency, printability, texture, and strength. Besides this, commonly used functional chemicals in the pulp and paper industry include coating binders, dyes, wet and dry additives, whitening agents, and sizing additives. Non-fibrous materials alike rosins, fillers, alum, and brighteners, which fall under functional and coating chemicals, are integrated throughout the paper-making procedure. These additives contribute to strength, imparting gloss, and ink retention characteristics to the paper. Additionally, the growth of this segment is attributed to the extensive consumption of dry-strength additives and pigment binders in China, specifically for packaging applications. Furthermore, the growth in consumer demand for prevention, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendly paper items propel the need for functional coating chemicals for papermaking, which results in a positive impact on market growth globally in the forecast duration.

Based on Application, the packaging segment dominated the global specialty pulp and paper chemicals market

The significant increase in the food and beverage industry in developed and emerging nations propels the segment growth. The range of applications of specialty paper in products of food packaging such as carryout boxes, corrugated clamshells, plates, cups, and paper tubes is another key driver fostering the overall market demand. Additionally, the considerable rise in demand for biodegradability, lightweight, and sustainable products is also boosting the growth of packaging segment, which results in driving global market growth in the forecast period.

Based on Region, Asia Pacific Region registered the largest revenue share in global specialty pulp and paper chemicals market

The regional growth is attributed to the substantial existence of specialty pulp and paper producers in China and Japan, coupled with ease of admittance to equipment and raw materials, which is predicted to promote the usage of chemicals in the forecast period. Additionally, the growing need for specialty pulp and paper in different end-use applications such as printing, labeling, and packaging, is predicted to propel the market growth. China and India are predicted to present considerable growth, driven by growing industrialization, cheap labor, and speedy economic development. Not only this, China is estimated to foster the market for segments such as paper packaging coupled with applications in industries including personal care, retail, homecare, healthcare, and many others. This results in propelling the need for the pulp and paper chemicals market in the forecast period.

The paper and paperboard packaging industry in China positioned as the 2nd largest around the globe, is predicted for ongoing growth to fulfil the heightened needs of mass customers. In addition, the growing emphasis on sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging is predicted to contribute to the growth of the specialty pulp & paper chemicals market in the Asia Pacific region. Moreover, the escalating concern for food safety within the food and beverages sector has propelled the need for high packaging boards and high-performance food service boards. Beyond this, the significant innovation of e-commerce in China encouraged the rise in express delivery, further propelling the need for packaging paper, and thereby fostering the need for the Asia Pacific specialty pulp and paper chemicals market in the forecast period.

Considerable increase in per capita consumption of paper products, easy accessibility of raw materials, and rise in different research and development activities pushing the growth of specialty pulp and paper chemicals. In addition, the increasing demand for pulp and fiber treatment chemicals, including pulping specialties, and bleaching, along with the increase in the import of wastepaper, and paperboard for conversion to pulp, is propelling the APAC specialty pulp and paper chemicals market growth, particularly in India and China. Also, the substantial rise in the customer and e-commerce segment is attributed to the growth of the specialty pulp and paper chemical market growth in Asia Pacific. The growing population, higher disposable income, and industrialization are predicted to introduce a demand for paper-based packaging in the region. This, in turn, is probably to drive the specialty pulp and paper chemical market in APAC.

By Region, North America is predicted to be the fastest-growing in the global specialty pulp and paper chemical market

Environmental performance, early integration of sustainable techniques of production, and regulatory compliance are predicted to drive the North America specialty pulp and paper chemicals market growth. The market in North America is estimated to rise because of the rising requirement for sustainable and environmentally friendly chemicals for the recycled papers and high increase in the number of specialty papers applications. Additionally, the US specialty pulp and paper chemicals market is extending due to a significant rise in the development of producing paper for packaging, labeling, and printing industries.

Top Market Players

Various notable players operating in the market include Ashland, BASF SE, Buckman, Dow Chemical Company, Ecolab, SNF Group, Evonik Industries AG, Nouryon, Solenis.

Key Developments

• • In 2022, Sonoco announced an increase in its prices for uncoated recycled paperboard in response to a consistent increase in demand.
  • In 2022, Stora Enso announced a heavy investment of EUR 40 million in innovative technology to develop the site’s footprint on climate and develop cost- effectiveness.
  • In 2022, Confoil and BASF joined hands to enhance a dual ovenable and certified compostable food tray reliant on paper.
  • In 2022, Dow planned to expand its flexible packaging recycling business in Africa to increase gathering and valorization of the flexible packaging.
  • In 2022, Buckman signed a partnership with Energy Drive to decrease the usage of electricity and aid the company in accomplishing sustainable environmental advantages.

Segments covered in the Report:

The Specialty pulp & paper chemicals market has been segmented on the basis of Product & Application. Based on the Product, the market is segmented into Basic Chemicals, Functional Chemicals, Bleaching Chemicals, Process Chemicals. Based on the Application, the market is segmented into Printing, Packaging, Labeling, Others.

Report Coverage	Details
Market Revenues (2022)	USD 22.3 billion
Market Base Year	2022
Market Forecast Period	2023-2030
Base Year & Forecast Units	Revenues (USD billion)
Market Segment	By Product, By Application, By Region
Regional Coverage	Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and RoW
Companies Profiled	Ashland, BASF SE, Buckman, Dow Chemical Company, Ecolab, SNF Group, Evonik Industries AG, Nouryon, Solenis, among others; a total of 9 companies covered.
25% Free Customization Available	We will customize this report up to 25% as a free customization to address our client’s specific requirements

Market Segmentation

Specialty pulp & paper chemicals market by Product

• • Basic Chemicals
  • Functional Chemicals
  • Bleaching Chemicals
  • Process Chemicals

Specialty pulp & paper chemicals market by Application

• • Printing
  • Packaging
  • Labeling
  • Others

Global Specialty Pulp & Paper Chemicals Market by Region

• North America Specialty Pulp & Paper Chemicals Market (Option 1: As a part of the free 25% customization)

  • By Product
  • By Application
  • US Market All-Up
  • Canada Market All-Up

• Europe Global Specialty Pulp & Paper Chemicals Market (Option 2: As a part of the free 25% customization)

  • By Product
  • By Application
  • UK Market All-Up
  • Germany Market All-Up
  • France Market All-Up
  • Spain Market All-Up
  • Rest of Europe Market All-Up

• Asia-Pacific Global Specialty Pulp & Paper Chemicals Market (Option 3: As a part of the free 25% customization)

  • By Product
  • By Application
  • China Market All-Up
  • India Market All-Up
  • Japan Market All-Up
  • Rest of APAC Market All-Up

• RoW Global Specialty Pulp & Paper Chemicals Market (Option 4: As a part of the free 25% customization)

  • By Product
  • By Application
  • Brazil Market All-Up
  • South Africa Market All-Up
  • Saudi Arabia Market All-Up
  • UAE Market All-Up
  • Rest of world (remaining countries of the LAMEA region) Market All-Up

Specialty pulp & paper chemicals market Players (Option 5: As a part of the free 25% Customization – Profiles of 5 Additional Companies of your Choice)

• • Ashland
  • BASF SE
  • Buck man
  • Dow Chemical Company
  • Ecolab
  • SNF Group
  • Evonik Industries AG
  • Nouryon
  • So lenis