Market research

Chemical wood pulp market in Southern Asia

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Southern Asia" region includes following countries:

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

Sri Lanka

India

Iran

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Earlier Report Observations

The chemical wood pulp market in Southern Asia grew from 3 312 thousand tons in 2018 to 3 440 thousand tons in 2019, propelled by rising consumer demand for eco-friendly and certified paper products, which increased pulp consumption. Industry initiatives to develop social and agroforestry for pulpwood supply supported this trend, even as domestic production held steady at 2 564 thousand tons.

After a period of stabilization around 3 376 thousand tons in 2020, the market volume contracted to 3 268 thousand tons in 2021, influenced by government policies promoting agroforestry and private forestry with financial support, which aimed to boost domestic raw material security and reduce import dependence. The market then recovered, reaching 3 354 thousand tons by 2023, driven by capacity-expanding investments such as JK Paper's Rs 650-crore hardwood bleach chemical thermo-mechanical pulp plant in Gujarat and sustained demand for packaging paper and paperboard.

External factors, including China's rapid expansion in paper production capacity and its new energy efficiency standards for recycled pulp, affected global pulp prices and trade flows, adding pressure to the Southern Asian market. The industry's ongoing shift toward sustainable practices, such as FSC certification and advanced effluent treatment technologies, continued to shape its evolution through 2024.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Southern Asia
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Southern Asia in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production chemical wood pulp in Southern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of chemical wood pulp, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of chemical wood pulp, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Southern Asia produced 2 564 K t of chemical wood pulp, remaining stable compared to the previous year. Looking back to 2019, the largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 0.0%, while the largest increase also occurred in 2018 at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	-	-	-	-

Source: SHEV.io

Exports chemical wood pulp from Southern Asia

Exports in kind, K t

Chemical wood pulp exports from Southern Asia declined for the second consecutive year. In 2019, the region exported 0.0 K t, marking a sharp reduction of 49.5% compared to 2018. Over the period from 2017 to 2019, exports decreased by 82.1%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 43.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(64.5%)	(49.5%)	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Italy and Iraq played central roles in exports in kind, together accounting for 69.4% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Southern Asia's chemical wood pulp export volume declined for the second consecutive year. In 2019, exports amounted to 0.0 M $ US, which is 54.1% lower year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2019, exports decreased by 87.8%, equating to an annualized rate of 50.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(73.4%)	(54.1%)	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

In 2017–2020, Italy and Iraq remained the key partner countries for exports in value terms of chemical wood pulp from Southern Asia, jointly accounting for 61.6% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports chemical wood pulp to Southern Asia

Imports in kind, K t

After a two-year increase, cross-border shipments of chemical wood pulp to Southern Asia declined. In 2020, imports reached 811.8 K t, a measured reduction of 7.3% compared to 2019. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 875.6 K t, with the largest increase of 17.2% also occurring in 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 12.3%, equating to an annualized rate of 3.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.4%	17.2%	(7.3%)	3.9%

Source: SHEV.io

In 2017–2020, Indonesia (33.9% of imports in kind), the United States (11.9% of imports in kind), and Singapore (9.2% of imports in kind) were the main destinations in the geographical breakdown of imports in kind of chemical wood pulp to Southern Asia, with a combined share of 55.1% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Chemical wood pulp shipments to Southern Asia from abroad declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports tallied 453.3 M $ US, down by 20.2% relative to the prior year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 632.4 M $ US, with the largest increase of 25.8% also occurring in 2018. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 9.9%, equating to an annualized rate of 3.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	25.8%	(10.1%)	(20.2%)	(3.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

In 2017–2020, Indonesia (27.4% of imports in value terms), the United States (13.2% of imports in value terms), and Turkey (11.3% of imports in value terms) formed the main cluster of markets for imports in value terms, with a combined share of 52.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io