Non wood fibre pulp market in Southern Asia

Earlier Report Observations

Production of non-wood fibre pulp in Southern Asia remained constant at 3.5 million tonnes annually from 2018 to 2023. Government initiatives promoting agro-forestry and farm-forestry helped stabilize the supply of soft fibres such as jute, bagasse, and bamboo. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains in 2020 but also increased demand for domestically recycled paper, supporting local collection and contributing to market stability.

Regulatory developments influenced market dynamics. The Water Recycling and Pollution Prevention Charter, extended in 2023, mandated reduced water consumption for mills in Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand, affecting production costs. China's introduction of mandatory 'dry-process/wet-process' declarations for recycled pulp imports in 2022 directly impacted the export supply and cost structure for South Asian mills, coinciding with a rise in import volumes until 2022 followed by a decline.

The market saw new opportunities with the recognition of jute pulp as a legitimate raw material, enabling expansion of jute-based paper production. In 2024, financial grants for agro-forestry were announced to accelerate public-private partnerships in pulp-wood production, while the Protective Textiles Quality Control Order imposed labeling and testing requirements for pulp-based textile materials.

Production non wood fibre pulp in Southern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of non wood fibre pulp, 2017-2020

World map of production of non wood fibre pulp, 2017-2020

In Southern Asia, non-wood fibre pulp production remained stable in 2020, with output reaching 3,493 thousand tonnes, showing no significant change from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018, at 0.0%, while the largest increase was also recorded in 2018, at 0.0%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Non-wood fibre pulp production in Southern Asia grew for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 2,829 million US dollars, marking a 2.3% year-over-year increase. From 2017 to 2020, production rose by 7.8%, equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 2.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports non wood fibre pulp from Southern Asia

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, reflecting a volatile market environment. Exports peaked in 2018 and reached their lowest point in 2020, with a 15-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Southern Asia exported 1,093 tonnes of non-wood fibre pulp, a sharp 73.9% decline year-over-year. The maximum volume was recorded in 2018 at 16,354 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 74.4%, while the largest increase was in 2018, at 139.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for non-wood fibre pulp exports from Southern Asia in volume terms were China (68.4% of exports), Asia, not elsewhere specified (9.5%), and Vietnam (4.7%). Together, these three accounted for 82.6% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Export values peaked in 2018 and hit a trough in 2020, with a 13.9-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Southern Asia exported 886 thousand US dollars of non-wood fibre pulp, representing a steep 73.3% year-over-year decline. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 12,302 thousand US dollars. The largest increase occurred in 2018, at 139.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for non-wood fibre pulp exports from Southern Asia in value terms were China (63.1% of exports), Japan (12.0%), and Asia, not elsewhere specified (8.9%). Together, these three accounted for 83.9% of total export value.

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

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

Imports non wood fibre pulp to Southern Asia

Imports in kind, t

Non-wood fibre pulp imports into Southern Asia increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, import volumes reached 53,711 tonnes, up 13.0% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 50.1%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main sources for non-wood fibre pulp imports into Southern Asia in volume terms were Sweden (37.6% of imports), New Zealand (27.6%), and Canada (14.3%). Together, these three represented 79.5% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, cross-border shipments of non-wood fibre pulp into Southern Asia reached 27,369 thousand US dollars, equivalent to a moderate 5.5% year-over-year increase. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports rose by 16.2%, with a CAGR of 5.1%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 27,377 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 5.3%, while the largest increase was in 2018, at 16.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main sources for non-wood fibre pulp imports into Southern Asia in value terms were Sweden (38.4% of imports), New Zealand (28.3%), and Canada (14.5%). Together, these three absorbed 81.1% of total import value.

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

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