China's Graphic Paper Demand Growth to Remain Healthy over Next Decade

China will continue to experience healthy graphic (printing, writing, and newsprint) paper demand growth over the next decade despite some markets in China already starting to mature. According to a new study released this week by RISI, Boston, Mass., USA, healthy economic activity and improved standards of living in China will support demand even as some markets such as newsprint experience displacement by electronic technology. China's Influence on World Graphic Paper Markets in the Coming Decade analyzes China's end use structure to determine how it will affect future graphic paper market growth.

"By 2011, Chinese consumption of graphic paper reached 27.6 million metric tons, averaging a demand growth rate of 1.5 million metric tons per year since 2001. However, the end-use structures in China are dramatically different than those of other world regions. For example, books consume more paper than any other end-use in China, 40% of all graphic paper demand, and standards for newsprint and magazines are far different than in the developed world. These differences all affect the likely trends in graphic paper demand by grade in China," said John Maine, VP of Graphic Papers at RISI.

"Based on our analysis of this intricate end-use structure, we believe that–although future growth rates for graphic paper demand could be less than half of historical levels as some markets begin to mature–China's increasing levels of economic activity, rising incomes, and increased educational demand will continue to support the overall growth of graphic paper," said Li Meng, economist for Graphic Papers at RISI and the lead author of this study.

More information on the new study is available online.

TAPPI
http://www.tappi.org/