Semi-bleached or bleached kraft or soda wood pulp excluding dissolving grades market in Thailand

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for semi-bleached or bleached kraft pulp in Thailand fluctuated between 2018 and 2023. It started at 1 123 thousand tons in 2018, dipped slightly to 1 109 thousand tons in 2019, then fell sharply to 929 thousand tons in 2020. A strong rebound followed in 2021, pushing consumption to 1 111 thousand tons. The market grew further to 1 146 thousand tons in 2022 before easing to 1 109 thousand tons in 2023.

In 2024, key developments included Double A's launch of a new kraft paper product line for packaging and its investment in a Recycle Pulp plant in Prachinburi, adding 250 thousand tons of annual capacity. Simultaneously, new packaging standards like BRCGS began their implementation phase, setting stricter requirements for materials, while regulators proposed tighter controls on contaminants in imported waste paper and heavy metals in food-contact paper.

Production bleached kraft or soda pulp in Thailand

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Thailand ranked 16th globally in the production of semi-bleached or bleached kraft or soda wood pulp, excluding dissolving grades, from 2017 to 2020.

Top producers of bleached kraft or soda pulp, 2017-2020

World map of production of bleached kraft or soda pulp, 2017-2020

Thailand's production of semi-bleached or bleached kraft or soda wood pulp, excluding dissolving grades, declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, output reached 795.0 K t, showing a modest 8.1% decrease compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 4.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.6%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 874.0 K t, which also saw the largest annual increase of 4.7%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Thailand's production value of semi-bleached or bleached kraft or soda wood pulp, excluding dissolving grades, declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the output was valued at 335.1 M $ US, representing a sharp 31.7% drop from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production value decreased by 30.7%, translating to an annualized rate of 11.5%. The peak value occurred in 2018 at 633.5 M $ US, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 30.9%.

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

Exports bleached kraft or soda pulp from Thailand

Exports in kind, K t

The export market showed an unstable trend during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 48.1 K t, with the largest annual decline of 12.1%, before peaking in 2020 at 129.1 K t, reflecting a steep 168.6% increase from the prior year. Overall, exports varied by 2.7-fold between these years.

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

From 2017 to 2020, China, France, and Vietnam were the key export destinations, accounting for 39.3%, 25.1%, and 12.0% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, these three countries represented 76.4% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Export values exhibited volatility over these years. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 27.3 M $ US, with the largest annual decline of 31.2%, while the highest occurred in 2020 at 54.4 M $ US, marking a 99.6% increase from the previous year. This resulted in a 2-fold gap between the peak and trough.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, China, France, and Vietnam remained the primary markets for exports in value terms, contributing 36.5%, 28.5%, and 11.2% of total export value, respectively. Collectively, these three countries accounted for 76.1% of export flows.

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

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

Imports bleached kraft or soda pulp to Thailand

Imports in kind, K t

Thailand's imports of semi-bleached or bleached kraft or soda wood pulp, excluding dissolving grades, declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 262.9 K t, a 10.0% contraction compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 29.1%, equating to an annualized rate of 10.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Brazil, the United States, and Canada were consistently the leading sources of imports in kind, with shares of 20.7%, 19.0%, and 12.1%, respectively. Together, these three countries accounted for 51.8% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Thailand's import value of semi-bleached or bleached kraft or soda wood pulp, excluding dissolving grades, declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports were valued at approximately 148.6 M $ US, a significant 24.4% decrease year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value fell by 38.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 15.1%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 244.3 M $ US, which also saw the largest annual increase of 0.5%.

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

Over 2017-2020, the United States, Brazil, and Canada consistently held leading positions in the import structure by value, with shares of 20.7%, 19.7%, and 12.7%, respectively. Collectively, these three countries accounted for 53.1% of total import flows.

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

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