Global Paper Consumption
Paper is one of the most important inventions in history. We use paper products every day for different purposes. Technological developments could not embower our good old friend.
Paper consumption is at unsustainable levels and globally it is increasing, especially in Asia, while remaining at unequal levels of access in some parts of the world, such as Africa. There are researches that have done to come up with some statistics. According to the research from 2015, global consumption had reached 398 million tons per year which worked out to be 12,620 kg per second in 2013. These data show differences, depending on regions.
Global Paper Regional Analysis: Europe, America, Asia and MENA
Germany’s paper industry stands at number one in Europe. It is turnover yields 14.9 billion Euros, and the annual production stands at 23.2 million tons, comprising 3,000 varieties of grades. In the region, the demand is expected to grow 2.0%/a, until 2025 driven by Eastern European growth at an annual rate near 4%. Europe has suffered from a long recession time, but in recent years, the demand has recovered together with the economy. For a mature market with limited population growth, the longer-term demand growth is thought to continue at a moderate pace of 1.6%/a.
Americans use more than 90 million short tons of paper and paperboard. North America has the world’s highest per capita consumption of paper of any region, consuming 221 kilograms per capita. The U.S.A. is the second most paper-consumed country with a consumption rate of more than 71 million metric tons. The market growth rate in North America has been above average especially because of the strong growth of the AFH (Away-from-Home) segment. On the other side of the continent, Latin American countries have continued to suffer from political and economic problems and varying economic performance. As a result of that market development has varied between the different countries.
China is the world’s largest paper and paperboard consumer in the world. China uses more than 103 million metric tons annually. Japan, as another powerful country in the region, consumed approximately 14.4 million metric tons in 2016, slightly down from 14.6 million tons in 2015.
The Middle East’s annual consumption of paper will increase to 29 million tons by 2020 according to international industry statistics released on the sidelines of Paper Arabia exhibition (2011). Political issues in the Middle East and North Africa region slowed the paper market growth in many regions in the past, but in recent years the growth has been strong in many countries.