Pulp Matters 1/2022

OUTLOOK

PULP IS PRIMED FOR THE BIG TIME

From sustainability issues to hygiene habits, market pulp is making advances across the board.

TEXT: SAMI ANTEROINEN PHOTOS: UPM, AFRY

The global market for pulp is positively buzzing. Engineering and consulting company AFRY expects considerable growth in the global demand for market pulp – BSKP, BHKP, UKP, fluff, mechanical pulp and dissolving pulps – during the next decade or so. Global demand was 78 million tonnes in 2020 and that is expected to reach 108 million tonnes by 2035. “Most of the growth is expected to come from China – about 15 million tonnes – but the rest of Asia, Europe and North America, as well as other developing economies, are all growing their demand for market pulp,” says João Cordeiro , Head of global Pulp & Paper business, Process Industries Division at AFRY. Tomi Amberla , Director at AFRY Management Consulting, points out that the growth in pulp demand is riding on global megatrends, such as sustainability, increasing disposable incomes and population growth. “All these megatrends are very much in line with the pulp demand prospects.”

HYGIENE TRENDS CHANGING GLOBALLY

A big part of the growth is driven by the demand for hygiene and tissue products – for example, as the Asian middle class keeps growing, local families are adopting Western hygiene patterns and pushing consumption. According to Cordeiro, many people in Asia are now starting to use toilet papers, paper towels, napkins and facial tissues for the first time in their lives. “If you look at Finland or the USA, one person uses about 20 kg of hygiene products per year. In countries like China and, say, Brazil, that consumption is only 5–8 kg a year,” Cordeiro offers as comparison. Nevertheless, the hygiene and tissue segment is growing in Western countries as well, since the industry is very active in launching new products and the population is ageing. “Fluff pulp is needed for older consumers with issues of incontinence, for example,” says Cordeiro.

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PUL P MAT TERS 01/2022