Smithers Predicts That The Specialty Paper Market Will Grow At An Annual Rate Of 2.1%.

According to Smithers, an authority on the global paper and packaging industry, the total consumption of specialty paper will reach 28.1 million tons in 2025. Multiple competitive factors will drive total consumption to 31.3 million tonnes in 2030, equivalent to a compound annual growth rate of 2.1% over the next five years.

Smithers' latest market report, The Future of Specialty Paper: Until 2030, tracks consumption and technology trends by region and country across 45 independent specialty paper varieties around the world.

Flexible wrapping paper is becoming increasingly important to the industry. The demand for single-gloss wrappers is growing the fastest, and they now account for about half of the world's sales. Sales of single-sided coated wrapping paper will also perform strongly during the forecast period; The United States will complete the transformation of several paper machines, while China will have new paper machines put into production.

Replacing plastic with paper in packaging requires the development of functional and barrier coatings with better performance. Most companies active in this space are investing in novel coating chemicals, advanced substrates, and innovative ways to apply barrier materials. In addition to coatings, the use of nanocellulose to enhance the properties of substrates and coatings is becoming increasingly common.

Regulatory requirements are providing new impetus for brands to switch from plastic to paper, but they also pose challenges for specialty paper producers. For example, new regulations designed for recyclability will require additional scrutiny of how coated and aluminized paper are effectively recycled during the recycling process.

Printed paper remains an important part of the overall market: despite its overall sluggish outlook, it is predicted that thermal paper and opaque light dosing grades will see strong additional sales growth.

As demand grows, specialty paper mills are investing in next-generation equipment. Major chemical suppliers have introduced intelligent control systems to manage the addition rate, start-up, and downtime processes on paper machines, improving overall efficiency. Curtain coating technology continues to advance, which makes it possible to apply multiple functional coatings in a single device.

The Asia-Pacific region, particularly China, is becoming a focal point for specialty paper production and new machine sales, with a forecast CAGR much higher than the global average. The region currently accounts for 46.0% of global production and will increase to 48.7% by the end of the year, while demand from India is also increasing.