Global Specialty Paper - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The Global Specialty Paper Market is expected to register a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period.

In the Foodservice industry, specialty papers are increasingly being used for carryout boxes, carryout bags, paper tubes, paper plates, and cups. They provide good barrier performance, high wet strength, excellent flexibility, print-ability, increase the shelf life of a product, and also enable seamless transportation handling.

Key Highlights

• Specialty papers attractive features like non-reactance, high-quality, waterproof, temperature resistance, and lightweight have increased their demand in packaging industries. The surging trend of interior designing across the globe increased the sales of specialty papers in the packaging and e-commerce Industry.
• Kraft papers are used extensively for self-adhesive roofing and flooring, and release liners are used to install and transport materials. The paper needs to be durable enough to hold heavy construction materials and must be easily removed during installation. These can be achieved using specialty papers like Kraft paper. With growing trends in construction projects, the specialty paper market seems to be a major part of the industry.
• The molecular structure of specialty paper is effective in developing new product variants customized to the requirement of users, including biodegradable options. Also, nanomaterials in specialty papers make it suitable for several by-products. All these properties of specialty papers make it one of the favorite options for several end users.
• The rising trends of using eco-friendly products and the increased cost of specialty papers seem to impact the market. For example, the use of Post-Consumer Waste is the most common alternative to virgin paper. This type of paper is made from a high percentage of post-consumer waste - those paper items that are put into the recycling bin. It keeps paper out of landfills, reduces the number of trees used, and it also saves energy.
• The specialty paper market has been moderately affected by SARS-CoV-2 infections. In the first half of the COVID period, the market was negatively affected by movement restrictions, stringent lockdown norms, and a reduced workforce. However, the rising e-commerce industry and increased packaged food consumption during the 2nd half of the outbreak increased the sales of specialty papers worldwide.

Specialty Paper Market Trends

Packaging and Labeling holds the major market share

• Specialty papers for the medical industry need to be contamination-free and lightweight. With the recent trends of more sophisticated packaging requirements in the pharmaceutical industry's use of specialty, papers will provide solutions to challenges like contamination-free packaging and more attractive and visible labeling.
• The use of specialty papers while packaging parts of any equipment they are covered in a specific, protecting oil and then wrapped in paper. Kraft paper can be used to protect the parts in the packaging and keep the oil from getting all over the box.
• For Instance, BIOCARBON LAMINATES supply the UK's First Carbon Neutral Laminate. The BioCarbon Laminates range has received recognition of Environmental Product Declaration (EPD and environmental performance through a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).
• The decorative laminate also provides the security of Anti-Microbial protection for hygiene-sensitive areas in industries such as hospitality, healthcare, locker rooms, washrooms, Leisure facilities, commercial interiors, and educational and retail.
• CEPI member countries' paper and board production increased by around 5.0% to 5.8% in 2021 compared to the previous year. Total production in 2021 reached 90.2 million ton, with an increase reported in almost all paper and board grades.

Europe Accounted to Hold the Major Market Share

• As per the report published by the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), the production of packaging grades increased by approximately 7.1% in FY 2021 compared to FY2020 reaching the highest level ever in Europe. Within packaging grades, case materials - mainly used for transport packaging and corrugated boxes, increased by upward trends in the e-commerce industry, recording an increase of 7.8%.
• The wrapping grades used for paper bag production - increased by 11.7% and benefited from substitution effects resulting from the EU-backed phase-out of plastic packaging.
• The output of carton boards, mainly used for retail packaging, increased by 4.1%. The share of packaging grades accounted for 58.7% in FY 2021 of the total paper and board production, with graphic grades 27.8%. The output of all other paper and board rates - mainly for particular and industrial purposes- was up by 9.6%, with a share of 4.8% of total paper and board production (source: CEPI).
• Preliminary indications show that imports of paper and board into the Cepi area increased by around 1.5% in FY 2021, primarily increasing volumes from other European countries by 21.8%. Other European countries account for 50.0% of all European imports.
• The production of pulp (integrated + market) was up by 2.2% in 2021. Compared to its previous year, with a total output of approximately 37.0 million ton (source: CEPI).

Specialty Paper Industry Overview

The global specialty papers market is highly competitive. The players in the specialty papers market are focusing on sustainability and recyclability. Maintaining quality with Product differentiation enhancement is a key focus area of key players in the specialty papers market.

• December 2021 - The company Stora Enso Oyj invested EUR 23 million into board production at a Varkaussite in Finland. The investment will be completed at the end of 2022 with an aim to increase the flexibility of the product range available for customers and to grow the site's total capacity by approximately 10%.
• March 2021 - Pixelle acquired the specialty paper business Rollsource from Veritiv Corporation. On April 5th, Pixelle acquired the carbonless rolls and security papers business from Appvion Operations Inc.

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