This statistic shows the monthly output Producer Price Index (PPI) of paper and paper products in the United Kingdom, from January 2016 to December 2024. After a period of fluctuation, the output price for paper and products in the UK has risen substantially between March 2017 and February 2019, declined throughout the rest of 2019 and 2020, and rapidly started to increase again from March 2021 to February 2023. Most recently, the PPI began to increase again, measuring at ***** in December 2024. Paper production in the United Kingdom The paper production industry is an important contributor to the United Kingdom's economy. In 2023, the UK produced over *** metric tons' worth of paper products. The Year prior, the most produced type of paper was corrugated case materials, widely used in the form of cardboard boxes. Paper consumption around the world The United Kingdom is not anymore among some of the world's largest consumers of paper and paperboard by volume. China consumes more paper and paperboard than any other country, consuming over *** million metric tons of paper and paperboard, compared with the ** million metric tons consumed by the United States, the next highest nation by consumption of paper and paperboard.

In March 2025, the average corrugated paper box import price amounted to $2,323 per ton, dropping by -5% against the previous month.

The average corrugated paper import price stood at $1,808 per ton in March 2025, increasing by 23% against the previous month.

This statistic the Producer Price Index (PPI) of paper and paper products in the United Kingdom (UK) as an annual average output price from 2009 to 2023. The average output price index of paper sold by manufacturers in the UK has fluctuated in this time period. In 2023 the indexed value measured at ***.

This statistic illustrates the annual producer price index of paper and paper products manufactured in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2019. The producer price index for these good reached a peak in 2019 at ***** points.

Over the five years through 2025-26, the UK Paper and Paperboard Manufacturing industry’s revenue is expected to decline at a compound annual rate of 2.8%. Revenue is projected to dip modestly by 2.4% in 2025-26 to £2.6 billion, reflecting ongoing challenges in core traditional markets. The sharp contraction in demand from newsprinters and stationery manufacturers, driven by digital transformation and changing demographics, has underpinned much of the sector’s recent difficulties. In light of this weak demand, profit is subdued at 4% in 2025-26 as intense price competition and rising import volumes continue to suppress profitability despite the recent easing of input costs.

A generational shift away from traditional print news and paper-based communication has posed a significant threat to the industry. The majority of print media demand now comes from older consumers, a generational cohort in decline, with just 7% of 18–24-year-olds and 6% of 25–34-year-olds using print sources for news compared with 36% of people over 65, according to Woburn Partners in 2023. The industry has also suffered from volatile wood pulp prices, although these have since alleviated, falling 16.2% from their January 2023 peak through August 2025, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. They remain a significant cost, burdening manufacturers.

The outlook for paper and paperboard packaging used in e-commerce and sustainable packaging remains more promising. Tightening regulatory requirements, including EPR, the Plastic Packaging Tax and fee modulation favouring recyclable packaging, are fuelling orders for paper-based solutions, a trend supported by 88% of UK consumers expressing the highest confidence in paper recycling. This comes as online shopping surges, boosting overall packaging demand, especially for lightweight and cost-effective solutions like cardboard boxes made from paper manufacturers' outputs. Meanwhile, falling wood pulp and energy prices, combined with cost synergies from sector mergers and technological investment, are set to reduce production costs, albeit with much of these gains set to be passed on to the consumer.

Revenue is expected to increase at a compound annual rate of 7.6% over the five years through 2030-31, reaching £3.7 billion, driven by growth in the packaging-grade paper segment as manufacturers shift away from declining print and stationery markets. Stronger environmental regulations, continued growth in online retail and a sustained shift away from plastic by consumers are all forecast to reinforce this upturn. Profit margins are expected to improve slightly, from 4% to 4.9% by 2030-31, as manufacturers leverage innovation and a strategic focus on high-growth areas to drive profitability.

The average tissue paper import price stood at $1,440 per ton in March 2025, growing by 2.1% against the previous month.

United Kingdom Import Price Index: BoP: MM: Paper & Paperboard data was reported at 104.000 2013=100 in Jul 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 103.000 2013=100 for Jun 2017. United Kingdom Import Price Index: BoP: MM: Paper & Paperboard data is updated monthly, averaging 83.000 2013=100 from Jan 1998 (Median) to Jul 2017, with 235 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 104.000 2013=100 in Jul 2017 and a record low of 75.000 2013=100 in Feb 2004. United Kingdom Import Price Index: BoP: MM: Paper & Paperboard data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.I034: Foreign Trade Price Index: 2013=100: By Commodity. Rebased from 2013=100 to 2015=100 Replacement series ID: 391900677

Recovered Paper Price in the UK - 2023. Find the latest marketing data on the IndexBox platform.

Despite slightly growth, the Paper and Paperboard Manufacturing industry has struggled with the ever-increasing threat of digitalisation across Europe dampening paper usage. Revenue is expected to hike at a compound annual rate of 3.7% over the five years through 2025, including a 0% change in 2025 to reach €131.1 billion. This trend has largely been driving by significant hikes in revenue over the two years through 2022. Following a revenue surge in 2022, spurred by a 21% spike in global wood pulp prices, the industry soon faced a reversal as supply chain disruptions, energy price hikes and weakening demand for traditional paper products weighed on profitability. Events like the Red Sea crisis and fluctuating energy costs have compounded the operational challenges, with major manufacturers like UPM publicly warning about profit slumps and subdued revenue expectations into 2025. The industry’s performance has been shaped by both cyclical and structural forces. The digitisation of the European economy has steadily eroded consumption of conventional paper products, like newsprint, writing paper and printed receipts, as businesses, governments and consumers shift to digital alternatives. Particularly in digital frontrunners like Finland and Denmark, the transition has been swift, with initiatives such as e-receipts and cloud-based documentation denting demand for core outputs. Meanwhile, surging industrial energy prices throughout the EU has pressurised profit, forcing mill closures and rationalisation, particularly among producers of graphic and fine papers. Yet, the industry hasn't stood still, as record-high recycling rates and bold investments in recyclable and speciality packaging materials have enabled leading manufacturers to tap into sustainable demand segments. The ongoing shift towards electronic communications and media will continue to create challenging conditions for manufacturers over the coming years. The relentless march of digitalisation will further depress traditional paper consumption, with 5G adoption and cloud-based alternatives continuing to undermine demand for printing and writing papers. However, surging e-commerce volumes across Europe are expected to drive robust growth in paper-based packaging, benefitting companies like Smurfit Kappa and DS Smith who specialise in innovative, sustainable packaging solutions. Environmental regulation and consumer appetite for circular solutions will keep pushing the industry toward lower-carbon, recycled, and biodegradable products, forcing laggards to adapt or risk being left behind. Continuing investment in sustainability and automation within manufacturing facilities will put paper producers in a strong position to capitalise on a growing packaging and paper bag manufacturing market. Manufacturers in forest-rich countries like Finland and Sweden will sustain their competitive edge due to stable pulp inputs, while import-dependent peers in the UK and Italy risk further rationalisation unless they boost recycling or efficiency initiatives. Over the five years through 2030, revenue is slated to swell at a compound annual rate of 3.7% to €157.4 billion.

In 2023, approx. 3.2K tons of handmade paper and paperboard were exported from the UK; growing by 3.3% compared with the previous year.

Euro Area - Producer prices in industry: Manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard was 111.90 points in September of 2025, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Euro Area - Producer prices in industry: Manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard - last updated from the EUROSTAT on December of 2025. Historically, Euro Area - Producer prices in industry: Manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard reached a record high of 145.70 points in October of 2022 and a record low of 79.30 points in August of 2009.

In 2024, the UK tissue paper market decreased by -10.3% to $2.6B for the first time since 2020, thus ending a three-year rising trend. The market value increased at an average annual rate of +1.4% from 2012 to 2024; the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Over the period under review, the market hit record highs at $2.9B in 2023, and then contracted in the following year.

United Kingdom ExPI: Non EU: PP: Corrugated Paper, Paperboard & of Containers data was reported at 104.500 2015=100 in Jun 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 104.700 2015=100 for May 2021. United Kingdom ExPI: Non EU: PP: Corrugated Paper, Paperboard & of Containers data is updated monthly, averaging 106.250 2015=100 from Mar 2020 (Median) to Jun 2021, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 107.000 2015=100 in Jul 2020 and a record low of 104.500 2015=100 in Jun 2021. United Kingdom ExPI: Non EU: PP: Corrugated Paper, Paperboard & of Containers data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.I043: Export Price Index: 2015=100.

United Kingdom PPI: Input: 90=100: Paper & Paper Products, Publishing, Printing data was reported at 93.600 1990=100 in Aug 1998. This records a decrease from the previous number of 94.400 1990=100 for Jul 1998. United Kingdom PPI: Input: 90=100: Paper & Paper Products, Publishing, Printing data is updated monthly, averaging 97.250 1990=100 from Jan 1990 (Median) to Aug 1998, with 104 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 117.900 1990=100 in Dec 1995 and a record low of 91.300 1990=100 in Dec 1993. United Kingdom PPI: Input: 90=100: Paper & Paper Products, Publishing, Printing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.I018: Producer Price Index: SIC 2003: 2005=100: Input.

Over the five years through 2025-26, the Paper Stationery industry’s revenue is expected to decline at a compound annual rate of 3.4%, including a forecast dip of 5.1% in 2025-26 to £343.6 million. As revenue has fallen, profit has been boosted by declining purchase costs. The downturn in revenue is chiefly driven by the sustained rise of digital communication and record-keeping, with companies and individuals alike turning to electronic substitutes and paperless solutions. Rising environmental consciousness, stricter regulations and advances in IT continue to erode demand for traditional paper stationery as both the workplace and education sectors rapidly digitise. Volatile wood pulp prices have also significantly influenced revenue. Sharp input cost increases temporarily boosted revenue in 2022-23 and 2023-24 as producers hiked their prices to cover their higher expenses. However, the easing of pulp prices since January 2023 has eaten into revenue as manufacturers pass on the savings to their customers. Meanwhile, a stronger pound is set to challenge export competitiveness and intensify import competition, particularly from China and to the eurozone. The industry isn’t without pockets of resilience. Premium notebooks and bespoke stationery are outperforming commoditised office supplies as consumers seek quality, personal expression and niche lifestyle products, trends that are particularly strong among Gen Z and supported by the popularity of “Stationerycore” on social media. Heightened demand for eco-friendly products is also opening up opportunities, with UK manufacturers pivoting towards recycled materials and carbon-balanced production to differentiate their offerings and meet evolving market expectations. Looking ahead, revenue is expected to decline at a compound annual rate of 2.9% over the five years through 2030-31 to £296 million. Demand for conventional stationery will remain subdued as digitisation and environmental concerns continue to gain traction in the UK’s workplaces and classrooms and global price competition remains strong. Profit is also set to edge down over the coming years as manufacturers adjust to a shrinking core market and seek to sustain profitability through innovation and targeting new niche segments, like luxury notepads, which are increasingly popular with younger demographics.

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Specialty Paper Market Size 2025-2029

The specialty paper market size is forecast to increase by USD 13.78 billion at a CAGR of 5% between 2024 and 2029.

The market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the shifting consumer preferences in emerging economies towards premium and convenient packaging solutions. This trend is further fueled by the advent of smart packaging, which integrates advanced technology into paper-based products, enhancing their functionality and appeal. However, the market faces challenges as well. The volatility in prices of raw materials, such as pulp and chemicals, poses a significant risk to the profitability of specialty paper manufacturers.
To capitalize on the market opportunities and navigate challenges, specialty paper manufacturers must focus on innovation, cost optimization, and sustainable production methods. By addressing these factors, they can cater to evolving consumer demands and ensure long-term success in the dynamic market. Additionally, the rise of e-commerce has led to a demand for lightweight and customizable packaging solutions. Effective supply chain management and strategic sourcing of raw materials are essential for companies to mitigate these price fluctuations and maintain competitiveness. 

What will be the Size of the Specialty Paper Market during the forecast period?

Explore in-depth regional segment analysis with market size data - historical 2019-2023 and forecasts 2025-2029 - in the full report.
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The market for specialty papers continues to evolve, driven by the diverse applications across various sectors. Paper grammage control and storage conditions are crucial factors in ensuring product consistency and quality. Paper sizing chemistry and testing standards enable optimal paper performance, while finishing equipment enhances the final product's appearance. Paper waste management and burst strength assessment are essential for sustainability and efficiency. Paper sheet formation, defect detection, and fiber modification contribute to improved product durability and functionality. Sustainable paper production methods and pulping chemicals reduce environmental impact, aligning with industry regulations. Paper converting processes and printability assessment cater to specific client needs, while coating formulations and drying techniques optimize paper performance.

Tensile strength, caliper measurement, and grade selection ensure product suitability for various applications. Roll handling and machine optimization streamline production processes, and coating additives and folding endurance enhance product functionality. The paper industry anticipates a 3% annual growth rate, reflecting the continuous innovation and dynamic nature of this market. For instance, a leading packaging company reported a 15% increase in sales due to the adoption of advanced paper coating formulations, resulting in superior product protection and customer satisfaction. Smart packaging is an innovative technology in the realm of food packaging, offering functions beyond the conventional inert and passive packaging.

How is this Specialty Paper Industry segmented?

The specialty paper industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD million' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Application

  Packaging and labelling
  Printing and writing
  Industrial
  Building and construction
  Others


Type

  Decor
  Packaging
  Printing
  Release liner paper
  Others


Raw Material

  Pulp
  Fillers and binders
  Additives
  Others


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    France
    Germany
    UK


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan
    South Korea


  South America

    Brazil


  Rest of World (ROW)

By Application Insights

The Packaging and labelling segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period. Specialty paper plays a pivotal role in packaging and labeling, enhancing product appeal and providing essential functionalities. In the retail sector, its usage is prevalent, particularly for food products. Brightness standards and opacity levels ensure product attractiveness, while tear resistance and dimensional stability maintain product integrity. Coating techniques, such as surface sizing and paper finish applications, offer protection and enhance print quality. Carbonless paper technology and security features cater to specific industries' needs. The paper industry anticipates significant growth, with estimates suggesting a 5% annual expansion. For instance, the demand for high-opacity paper in printing applications has risen due to its superior ink coverage and vibrant colors. Food and beverage packaging is a significant segment of the paper packaging market.

Paper porosi

In November 2022, the price for recovered paper dropped to $163 per ton (FOB, United Kingdom). This was a decrease of -5.3%, compared to the previous month.

346 Global import shipment records of Waste Paper Uk with prices, volume & current Buyer's suppliers relationships based on actual Global export trade database.

As of 2024, the most expensive national newspaper for UK consumers was FT Weekend (a supplement to the weekend edition of the Financial Times) at **** British pounds and *** pence per copy. By contrast, The i and Daily Star both came out at under *** pound each. The i cost just ** pence back in 2014, meaning that the paper's cover price increased by more than ******** over the last decade. A number of national papers cost over ***** GBP in 2024, including The Observer, The Sunday Times, and the Saturday edition of The Guardian. Circulation continues to fall Between 2022 and 2023, data on ** large national newspapers in the UK showed a drop in paid circulation among every publication. Sunday People suffered a decline of almost ** percent, and Daily Star, Daily Record, and Daily Mirror saw a decrease of ** percent. With the price of newspapers on the up and the cost-of-living crisis ongoing, it seems unrealistic to expect British consumers to invest in newspapers, and circulation is unlikely to improve. But will consumers invest in online subscriptions? Digital news subscriptions are also costly A number of news subscriptions available to UK news consumers cost in excess of *** British pounds per year, and most were around the 100 GBP mark. For the **** percent of UK consumers spending between ** and 100 GBP on online grocery each week, persuading them to invest a similar amount in just *** news publication is challenging.