Kraft Paper Global Market Report 2026

Kraft paper is produced through the sulfate pulping process and comes in various grades, including bleached, unbleached, and others. It is commonly used for packaging materials.

The main types of kraft paper encompass virgin natural kraft paper, natural recycled kraft paper, black kraft paper, colored kraft paper, white or bleached kraft paper, and printed kraft paper. Virgin natural kraft paper is composed of clean and durable fiber content, making it suitable for heavy-duty applications. Kraft paper is utilized in the production of various packaging forms such as corrugated boxes, grocery bags, industrial bags, wraps, pouches, and envelopes. Different grades of kraft paper include unbleached, bleached, wrapping & packaging, sack kraft paper, and others. Kraft paper finds applications in various industries, including food and beverages, building and construction, electronics and electricals, cosmetics and personal care, textile manufacturing, and others.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs are influencing the kraft paper market by increasing costs of imported pulp, chemicals, paper processing machinery, and energy inputs used in kraft paper manufacturing. Packaging producers in North America and Europe are most affected due to cross-border pulp sourcing, while Asia-Pacific faces export cost pressures. These tariffs are raising packaging material prices across end-user industries. However, they are also encouraging domestic pulp production, regional paper mill investments, and increased use of recycled kraft paper grades.

The kraft paper market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides kraft paper market statistics, including kraft paper industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a kraft paper market share, detailed kraft paper market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the kraft paper industry. This kraft paper market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The kraft paper market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $18.44 billion in 2025 to $19.34 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of paper-based packaging usage, growth in food and beverage packaging demand, availability of virgin pulp resources, increasing replacement of plastic packaging, expansion of industrial bag applications.

The kraft paper market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $22.99 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for recyclable packaging solutions, rising adoption of circular economy practices, expansion of online retail packaging needs, growing focus on lightweight packaging materials, increasing innovation in kraft paper processing. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for sustainable packaging materials, rising use of recycled kraft paper grades, growing adoption of printed and customized packaging, expansion of e-commerce packaging applications, enhanced focus on high-strength paper grades.

The rapid expansion of the packaging industry is expected to drive the growth of the kraft paper market in the coming years. The packaging industry involves the production and supply of materials and containers used to protect, store, and present products until they reach end consumers, and it is expanding as the growth of online shopping increases the need for reliable, efficient, and durable materials to safeguard goods during transportation and delivery. Kraft paper is widely used in industrial and commercial packaging applications such as packing, wrapping individual products, bundling, and void filling due to its high strength and durability. For instance, in November 2025, according to the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), an Australia-based joint industry-government body, the total volume of packaging placed on the market (POM) in Australia during 2023-24 was estimated at 6.84 million tonnes. Therefore, the continued expansion of the packaging industry is propelling the growth of the kraft paper market.

Key players operating in the kraft paper market are increasingly focusing on the development of innovative product solutions, such as advanced paper-based wrapping materials, to support sustainable packaging initiatives and reduce dependence on plastic materials. Advanced paper-based wrapping materials are specially engineered kraft papers that offer enhanced strength, durability, and barrier properties, enabling manufacturers to replace plastic packaging with recyclable and biodegradable paper solutions while maintaining product quality and supporting environmental sustainability. For instance, in May 2023, Billerud, a Sweden-based pulp and paper manufacturer, launched a renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable wrapping solution for toilet and kitchen rolls. The company introduced machine-glazed kraft paper specifically designed and approved for wrapping toilet paper and kitchen towel rolls, allowing brand owners to transition from plastic to paper packaging without compromising performance or quality.

In April 2024, American Kraft Paper Industries, a U.S.-based supplier, acquired Pine Bluff Unbleached Kraft Paper Mill from Twin Rivers Paper for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition is intended to enhance American Kraft Paper Industries' production and distribution capabilities in the unbleached kraft paper sector. The strategic move allows the company to better serve both domestic and international customers in the packaging industry by improving speed, quality, reliability, and efficiency. Twin Rivers Paper is a U.S.-based company specializing in the production of specialty paper products.

Major companies operating in the kraft paper market are Mondi Group, Stora Enso, WestRock, Smurfit Kappa, Klabin SA, Nine Dragons Paper Holdings, Billerud AB, Heinzel Group, Segezha Group, International Paper, Ilim Group, KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation, Georgia Pacific LLC, Packaging Corporation of America, Domtar Corporation, Hood Packaging Corporation, Norampac Inc, Klingele Paper and Packaging Group, Paper Excellence, CMPC Biopackaging, Arabian Kraft Paper Manufacturing LLC

North America was the largest region in the kraft paper market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the kraft paper market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the kraft paper market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The kraft paper market consists of sales of printed kraft paper, colored kraft paper, vegetable parchment kraft paper, greaseproof kraft paper, and glassine kraft paper. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Kraft Paper Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses kraft paper market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

Reasons to Purchase

• Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 16 geographies.
• Assess the impact of key macro factors such as geopolitical conflicts, trade policies and tariffs, inflation and interest rate fluctuations, and evolving regulatory landscapes.
• Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis.
• Identify growth segments for investment.
• Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market.
• Understand customers based on end user analysis.
• Benchmark performance against key competitors based on market share, innovation, and brand strength.
• Evaluate the total addressable market (TAM) and market attractiveness scoring to measure market potential.
• Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high-quality data and analysis
• Report will be updated with the latest data and delivered to you within 2-3 working days of order along with an Excel data sheet for easy data extraction and analysis.
• All data from the report will also be delivered in an excel dashboard format.

Where is the largest and fastest growing market for kraft paper ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The kraft paper market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type: Virgin Natural Kraft Paper; Natural Recycled Kraft Paper; Black Kraft Paper; Colored Kraft Paper; White Or Bleached Kraft Paper
• 2) By Packaging Form: Corrugated Boxes; Grocery Boxes; Industrial Bags; Wraps
• 3) By End User: Food And Beverages; Building And Construction; Other End Users
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Virgin Natural Kraft Paper: Unbleached Virgin Kraft Paper
• 2) By Natural Recycled Kraft Paper: Recycled Brown Kraft Paper
• 3) By Black Kraft Paper: Matte Black Kraft Paper; Glossy Black Kraft Paper
• 4) By Colored Kraft Paper: Solid Colored Kraft Paper; Pastel Colored Kraft Paper
• 5) By White Or Bleached Kraft Paper: White Unbleached Kraft Paper; White Bleached Kraft Paper
• Companies Mentioned: Mondi Group; Stora Enso; WestRock; Smurfit Kappa; Klabin SA; Nine Dragons Paper Holdings; Billerud AB; Heinzel Group; Segezha Group; International Paper; Ilim Group; KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation; Georgia Pacific LLC; Packaging Corporation of America; Domtar Corporation; Hood Packaging Corporation; Norampac Inc; Klingele Paper and Packaging Group; Paper Excellence; CMPC Biopackaging; Arabian Kraft Paper Manufacturing LLC
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
• Delivery Format: Word, PDF or Interactive Report
• + Excel Dashboard
• Added Benefits
• Bi-Annual Data Update
• Customisation
• Expert Consultant Support

Added Benefits available all on all list-price licence purchases, to be claimed at time of purchase. Customisations within report scope and limited to 20% of content and consultant support time limited to 8 hours.