Newsprint market in China

Earlier Report Observations

The Chinese newsprint market reached its peak in 2018 with a volume of 2 372 thousand tons, supported by around twenty domestic producers investing in advanced production lines and a rapidly developing newspaper industry. However, the market volume began a sustained decline, falling to 1 951 thousand tons in 2019 and 1 750 thousand tons in 2020.

New industry norms effective from 2022 set a minimum annual capacity of 300 thousand tons for newsprint production lines, accelerating industry consolidation. This contributed to a further drop in production and market volume, which fell to 1 353 thousand tons in 2022.

By 2023, market volume had decreased to 1 288 thousand tons, driven by increased imports of cheaper newsprint from Russia, Canada, Australia, and Europe, which displaced domestic sales as newspapers reduced their paper consumption. The number of domestic producers collapsed to only three by 2024, with the market reaching a basic supply-demand balance amid rising import prices influenced by global shipping disruptions.

Production newsprint in China

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, China maintained the fourth position globally in newsprint production volume.

Top producers of newsprint, 2017-2020

World map of production of newsprint, 2017-2020

China's newsprint production declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, production reached 1 100 K t, marking a sharp drop of 26.7% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production fell by 53.2%, which translates to an annualized decrease of 22.4%.

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

Exports newsprint from China

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, China's newsprint exports totaled 4.0 K t, representing a sudden decline of 54.1% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 54.1%, with an annualized rate of 22.9%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, at 18.0%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, North Korea (40.1% of exports in kind), Hong Kong (13.8% of exports in kind), and Cambodia (11.1% of exports in kind) together accounted for 64.9% of China's total newsprint exports in kind, making them the primary destinations.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, China's newsprint export value stood at 8.4 M $ US, indicating a loss of 26.7% compared to the previous year. Over the period 2017-2020, exports decreased by 4.4%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.5%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 11.5 M $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 32.3%.

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

During 2017–2020, North Korea (22.7% of exports in value terms), Cambodia (13.6% of exports in value terms), and Hong Kong (7.5% of exports in value terms) were significant buyers of newsprint from China. However, their combined share reached only 43.8% of total exports in value terms, with the remaining 56.2% distributed among numerous other partners.

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

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

Imports newsprint to China

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, China's imported newsprint volume amounted to 654.3 K t, showing an advance of 42.2% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 97%, with a CAGR of 25.4%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 4.0%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 44.3%.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, Russia (27.4% of imports in kind), Canada (17.6% of imports in kind), and South Korea (17.2% of imports in kind) played leading roles in China's newsprint imports in kind, jointly accounting for 62.3% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2018, with a 1.7-fold difference between these years. In 2020, China's newsprint import value totaled 267.6 M $ US, showing a moderate gain of 9.9% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 294.8 M $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 74.3%, while the largest decline occurred in 2019 at 17.4%.

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

Over 2017–2020, Russia (26.9% of imports in value terms), South Korea (18.6% of imports in value terms), and Canada (17.3% of imports in value terms) made the biggest contribution to China's newsprint imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 62.8% of total flows.

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

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