Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $8.7bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
COVID-19 stifled the growth of wood pulp mills
- The outbreak of COVID-19 led to plummeting paper production as office rental vacancies surged, reducing the need for wood pulp. Wood pulp prices also significantly dropped, compounding lower downstream paper production.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Exports to continue spurring growth
- Exports to developing economies like China and Indonesia will be the primary source of growth for wood pulp mills as US paper production continues to slow.
Biggest companies in the Wood Pulp Mills in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
International Paper Company | 2,224.4 | 12.1 | 0.5 | |
Domtar Corp | 1,508.2 | 51.7 | 3.4 | |
Sappi Limited | 461.2 | 36.8 | 8.0 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Bleached sulfate pulp, Unbleached sulfate pulp and Mechanical and semi-chemical pulp. Bleached sulfate pulp is the largest segment of the Wood Pulp Mills in the US.
Trends and Insights
Unbleached sulfate pulp production rises alongside e-commerce sales
- Downstream paper manufacturers use unbleached pulp to manufacture packaging paper and other papers where a brown color is acceptable. This pulp is much cheaper to produce.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Wood pulp mills primarily manufacture pulp without processing it into paper or paperboard. The pulp is made by separating the cellulose fibers from impurities in wood or other materials like used or recycled rags, linters, scrap paper and straw.
What's included in this industry?
Manufacturing chemical, mechanical or semichemical wood pulpManufacturing pulp from other materials like bagasse, linters, rags, straw and wastepaperDe-inking recovered paper to make de-inked pulpBleached sulfate pulpUnbleached sulfate pulpMechanical and semi-chemical pulpSulphite pulpCompanies
International Paper CompanyDomtar CorpSappi LimitedPurchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
BAGASSELINTERKENAFKRAFTMARKET PULPEFFLUENTIndustry Code
NAICS 32211 - Wood Pulp Mills in the US
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Wood pulp mills faced severe volatility. Fluctuations in pulp prices spurred by the outbreak of COVID-19 led to massive swings in wood pulp output.
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Sanitary paper product manufacturers were a boon to wood pulp mills. Wood pulp mills increasingly produced bleached sulfate pulp as sanitary paper product manufacturers’ prod...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The Southeast dominates the industry. Wood pulp producers are located in the Southeast to reduce transportation costs, with suppliers like sawmills, logging companies and woo...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Wood pulp producers mainly compete on price. Producers must keep prices low to attract buyers since most domestic paper producers are vertically integrated and produce their ...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Four companies have amassed more than 5.0% of the market. International Paper, Resolute Forest, Domtar and Sappi Global are large and vertically integrated companies, enablin...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of International Paper Company's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Domtar Corp's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Sappi Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for International Paper Company, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Domtar Corp, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Sappi Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The Environmental Protection Agency highly regulates wood pulp mills. Multiple environmental rules and regulations considerably impact the production of wood pulp.
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Profit has fluctuated considerably. Volatility in pulp and input costs has led to severe fluctuations in wood pulp mills’ profit.
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
- Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
- Income Statement (2017-2022)
- Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
- Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Wood Pulp Mills in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Wood Pulp Mills in the US industry in United States is $8.7bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Wood Pulp Mills in the US industry in 2024?
There are 37 businesses in the Wood Pulp Mills in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Wood Pulp Mills in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Wood Pulp Mills in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Wood Pulp Mills in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Wood Pulp Mills in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Wood Pulp Mills in the US market in United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Wood Pulp Mills market in United States are International Paper Company, Domtar Corp and Sappi Limited
What does the Wood Pulp Mills in the US in United States include?
Manufacturing chemical, mechanical or semichemical wood pulp and Manufacturing pulp from other materials like bagasse, linters, rags, straw and wastepaper are part of the Wood Pulp Mills in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Wood Pulp Mills in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is International Paper Company.
How competitive is the Wood Pulp Mills in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Wood Pulp Mills in the US industry in United States.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Paper Mills in the US
- Paperboard Mills in the US
- Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing in the US
- Paper Product Manufacturing in the US
International industries
- Global Paper & Pulp Mills
- Wood Pulp Mills in Canada
- Pulp, Paper and Paperboard Manufacturing in Australia
- Pulp, Paper and Paperboard Manufacturing in New Zealand
View all industries in United States
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
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