Analysis of the development status of China's packaging industry in 2021

The main raw material for packaging is pulp; pulp is made from plant fibers and processed into packaging boxes through different processing methods. It is a natural renewable resource and the main raw material for the packaging industry. Pulp includes wood pulp, non-wood pulp and waste paper pulp. Bleached softwood kraft pulp and bleached hardwood kraft pulp are the two mainstream wood pulps on the market.

    Packaging box pulp production

    The main component of the fiber in the pulp is cellulose, and there are also different degrees of hemicellulose, lignin, resin, pigment, pectin and ash. Among them, cellulose and hemicellulose are the basic components needed for pulp.

    According to data from the Paper Industry Association, China’s total packaging pulp production in 2020 is 73.78 million tons, an increase of 2.4% over the previous year. China Commercial Industry Research Institute predicts that China's pulp production will reach 73.82 million tons in 2021.

    Consumption of box pulp

    With the improvement of production technology and the continuous improvement of the level of papermaking technology, China's paper products are showing a trend of high-grade and diversification. In 2020, the country’s total packaging box pulp consumption was 102 million tons, an increase of 5.27% over the previous year. China Commercial Industry Research Institute predicts that China's packaging box pulp consumption will reach 10.31 million tons in 2021.

    In 2020, China's packaging box pulp consumption accounted for 40.46 million tons of wood pulp, accounting for 40% of total pulp consumption, of which imported wood pulp accounted for 25%, domestic wood pulp accounted for 15%; waste paper pulp accounted for 56.32 million tons, accounting for pulp consumption The total amount is 55%, of which: imported waste paper pulp accounts for 2%, imported waste paper pulp accounts for 6%, and domestic waste paper pulp accounts for 47%; non-wood pulp accounts for 5.22 million tons, accounting for 5% of total pulp consumption.

    Pulp import and export situation

    In 2020, the import of pulp was 31.35 million tons, an increase of 15.26% from the previous year; the average price of imported pulp was US$512.58/ton, a decrease of 18.57% from the average price of the previous year. In 2020, the export of pulp was 105,500 tons, a decrease of 9.05% from the previous year; the average export price of pulp was US$1085.38/ton, a decrease of 5.72% from the average price of the previous year.