Coated Paper Market Size & Share 2019 to 2026
Market Size by Product (Coated Fine Paper, Coated Groundwood Paper), by Coating Material (Clay, Calcium Carbonate, Talc), by Finishing Process (Online Calendering, Offline Calendering), by Application (Printing, Packaging), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast.
Report ID: GMI1099
|
Published Date: December 2019
|
Report Format: PDF
Download Free PDF
Authors:
Kiran Pulidindi, Akshay Prakash
Coated Paper Market Size
Coated Paper Market size was valued at over USD 45 billion in 2018 and is projected to achieve over 3% CAGR from 2019 to 2026.
Coated paper is treated with a mixture of chemicals and materials to improve surface properties such as gloss, weight, smoothness, and ink retention. The coating materials typically used are clay, calcium carbonate, kaolinite, bentonite, and talc. Polymers, such as polyethylene and polyolefin, are used to impart waterproof and tear strength characteristics. Moreover, the coating material is mixed with certain chemical additives, such as resins and dispersants, to enhance wet strength and UV resistance. The coating makes the base paper less porous, which is ideal for printing applications.
Proliferating internet trade and the e-commerce industry are the prime factors driving the market growth. Rising popularity of home delivered food and household products creates an upsurge in packaging, which will drive the product demand in the upcoming years. Increasing demand for paper bags, grocery bags, waterproof bags for milk & fruit juice, and shopping bags are likely to augment the market growth over the forecast timeframe. Also, stringent regulations pertaining to plastic packaging are creating a radical shift toward paper packaging, further boosting the industry share.
Coated Paper Market Trends
The volatility in wood pulp prices may have an adverse impact on the growth of coated paper market during the forecast timespan. Economic cycles and global supply & trade disturbances cause a major shift in the prices of wood pulp. Moreover, the requirement for huge capital investment may hinder the market growth in the future. This investment covers costs associated with land, setting of production plant, necessary equipment, permits, etc.
Additionally, constraints related to locations having plenty of forest reserves, environmental clearances, and water availability may pose difficulties for coated paper manufacturers. However, major players are aligning their business models and adopting vertical integration strategies for improving their production output and enhancing efficiency of the overall process.
Coated Paper Market Analysis
Coated fine paper will account for a significant share in the coated paper market share over the study period. Coated fine paper is produced from chemically bleached pulp and contains lesser amount of mechanical pulp. The growth in the adoption of such papers can be attributed to its high grammage and excellent brightness of up to 96%. It is prominently used for offset printing applications to produce annual reports, magazines, advertising materials, and catalogues.
Coated groundwood paper is expected to be the fastest-growing segment owing to its smooth surface with significant reduction of ink absorbency capabilities. These papers are generally lightweight, finding applications in magazines, brochures, and catalogues. In addition, coated groundwood paper is eco-friendly and cost-effective. It also offers high stiffness and thickness required for printing books, calendars, and business communications.
Clay will hold the majority share as a popular coating material in the coated paper market over the study period. This can be attributed to the provision for a wide range of finishes based on the customer requirements. The finish ranges from high or dull gloss to matte finishes. Moreover, the brightness of the paper can also be altered, thereby boosting the segment share over the study period.
Online calendering will showcase the highest growth over the projected timeframe. This can be credited to the technological advancements along with faster calendaring process compared to the online calenders. Moreover, online calenders are available in a wide range of types including hard nip, soft nip, and multi nip calenders among others making them ideal for a wide range of applications.
Packaging gained a significant market share and is likely to register the highest CAGR during the review period. This is largely due to an upsurge in the demand for such paper in flexible packaging for food, medical, and cosmetic products. Increasing consumer awareness regarding single-use plastic is creating a shift towards paper packaging in home delivered products and consumer goods, thereby driving the segment demand.
Printing held a substantial market share in 2018 and is likely to grow at a healthy CAGR in the upcoming years. This is mainly due to the growing advertisement sector and the increasing demand for printed magazines, financial reports, brochures, and direct mails by business corporate offices. Coated paper offers superior gloss and thickness, which are considered as preferred features for printing applications. It offers a smooth surface for printing books and calendars with sharp images and reduced ink absorption.
The Asia Pacific coated paper market dominated with the largest market share in 2018 and is likely to grow at a significant rate in the upcoming years. This is largely due to the expanding end-use industries for the packaging sector such as food & beverages, pharmaceutical manufacturing, personal care products, and online retail. The booming e-commerce sector and internet trade have led to rising consumption of such papers in the packaging of home delivered products. China and Japan are the key countries contributing to the regional market growth on account of significant consumer base, affordable labor, and regulations pertaining to plastic packaging. Also, the printing sector is expanding in the region owing to an upsurge in printed packaging products and the developing advertisement sector.
Coated Paper Market Share
The companies have adopted various strategies, such as partnerships and collaborations for enhancing their market share. For instance, in October 2019, Sappi Europe signed a collaboration agreement with HP Indigo to print media in its wood-free coated paper using HP Indigo’s digital imaging technologies. The coated paper market is consolidated with presence of large number of manufacturers across the globe. Some of the key manufacturers in the market are
by Product
by Coating Material
by Finishing Process
by Application
The above information is provided on a regional and country basis for the following:
Research methodology, data sources & validation process
This report draws on a structured research process built around direct industry conversations, proprietary modelling, and rigorous cross-validation and not just desk research.
Our 6-step research process
1. Research design & analyst oversight
At GMI, our research methodology is built on a foundation of human expertise, rigorous validation, and complete transparency. Every insight, trend analysis, and forecast in our reports is developed by experienced analysts who understand the nuances of your market.
Our approach integrates extensive primary research through direct engagement with industry participants and experts, complemented by comprehensive secondary research from verified global sources. We apply quantified impact analysis to deliver dependable forecasts, while maintaining complete traceability from original data sources to final insights.
2. Primary research
Primary research forms the backbone of our methodology, contributing nearly 80% to overall insights. It involves direct engagement with industry participants to ensure accuracy and depth in analysis. Our structured interview program covers regional and global markets, with inputs from C-suite executives, directors, and subject matter experts. These interactions provide strategic, operational, and technical perspectives, enabling well-rounded insights and reliable market forecasts.
3. Data mining & market analysis
Data mining is a key part of our research process, contributing nearly 20% to the overall methodology. It involves analysing market structure, identifying industry trends, and assessing macroeconomic factors through revenue share analysis of major players. Relevant data is collected from both paid and unpaid sources to build a reliable database. This information is then integrated to support primary research and market sizing, with validation from key stakeholders such as distributors, manufacturers, and associations.
4. Market sizing
Our market sizing is built on a bottom-up approach, starting with company revenue data gathered directly through primary interviews, alongside production volume figures from manufacturers and installation or deployment statistics. These inputs are then pieced together across regional markets to arrive at a global estimate that stays grounded in actual industry activity.
5. Forecast model & key assumptions
Every forecast includes explicit documentation of:
✓ Key growth drivers and their assumed impact
✓ Restraining factors and mitigation scenarios
✓ Regulatory assumptions and policy change risk
✓ Technology adoption curve parameter
✓ Macroeconomic assumptions (GDP growth, inflation, currency)
✓ Competitive dynamics and market entry/exit expectations
6. Validation & quality assurance
The final stages involve human validation, where domain experts manually review filtered data to identify nuances and contextual errors that automated systems might miss. This expert review adds a critical layer of quality assurance, ensuring data aligns with research objectives and domain-specific standards.
Our triple-layer validation process ensures maximum data reliability:
✓ Statistical Validation
✓ Expert Validation
✓ Market Reality Check
Trust & credibility
Verified data sources
Trade publications
Security & defense sector journals and trade press
Industry databases
Proprietary and third-party market databases
Regulatory filings
Government procurement records and policy documents
Academic research
University studies and specialist institution reports
Company reports
Annual reports, investor presentations, and filings
Expert interviews
C-suite, procurement leads, and technical specialists
GMI archive
13,000+ published studies across 30+ industry verticals
Trade data
Import/export volumes, HS codes, and customs records
Parameters studied & evaluated
Every data point in this report is validated through primary interviews, true bottom-up modelling, and rigorous cross-checks. Read about our research process →