Part of the wood, paper and fiber industry, the global paper business is forecast to maintain 6% yearly growth for the five-year period ending 2017 to exceed $255 billion, reports Lucintel. The industry is characterized by a high degree of fragmentation and is dominated by the Asia-Pacific region, which witnessed more than 40% growth rate in 2011, fuelled by a rising degree of urbanization, increasing levels of disposable income and improving consumer lifestyles.

Worldwide consumption volume of paper and paper products is expected to surpass 445 million tons by 2015, according to research from Global Industry Analysts. Industry performance is fuelled by demand from emerging countries in the Asia Pacific region. Demand for corrugated paper and packaging products as well as board grades in particular are contributing to market growth.  Recovery in the consumer goods manufacturing industry in these regions is outpacing that of nations in the West.

Demand for writing and newsprint paper continues to fall due to the rise of electronic media. The internet has vastly cut down paper use worldwide. In addition, inter-office communication now relies more heavily on email than paper. E-commerce and electronic signatures are also driving the decline of paper use. Industry players have turned to capacity rationalization and activity consolidation to deal with stiffening competition. Mergers and acquisitions continue to provide an attractive solution for companies wishing to benefit from economies of scale to maintain or capture market share.

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