Slowdown Prompts China's Pulp And Paper Producers To Consolidate, Invest Overseas

Major Chinese domestic players making global impact

Boston, MA /PRNewswire/ - As China's economic boom has slowed in recent years, its pulp and paper sector has responded with significant shifts in strategy. Mergers, overseas expansion, deleveraging and new product development have become priorities for China's pulp and paper producers. Providing much-needed detail about this vital sector is the China Pulp and Paper Factbook, a new publication from RISI, the leading source of intelligence for the global forest products industry.

"The slowdown is bringing big changes for China's pulp and paper companies," said Levi Li, RISI Managing Director for China. "We're seeing Tier 1 paper companies invest overseas, as Sun Paper expands into the US, and HXPP has acquired International Paper's packaging business in Asia.

"Industry consolidations in China are also changing the competitive landscape," said Li. In Fuyang, Zhejiang province, which previously hosted over 200 small paper mills, there are now 3 dominant groups. And in Dongguan, millions of tonnes of paper capacity were shut down last year. The impact of such changes is only beginning to be felt, in China and worldwide."

As a top producer and consumer of pulp and paper products, China is of central importance to the entire global industry. Despite this, understanding of Chinese market conditions has historically been limited.

"While producers like Nine Dragon and APP are known outside China, many others play an important role in the market, without much attention from the rest of the world." Li explained. "The pulp and paper sector in China is still quite fragmented, with the top 30 companies representing around 52% of the total output – but this is rapidly changing. We compiled the Factbook to help make sense of these changes."

Originally developed for Chinese-language customers by RISI and its China-based UM Paper division, the Factbook has now been updated and translated for a global audience. Drawing from more than a decade of in-country research and analysis, it provides detailed monthly regional price data; statistics on output, demand, import/export, investment, and industry financial performance; a review of economic and industry policies; and acost structure comparison between China and the rest of world for all major grades. It offers unprecedented detail about China's pulp and paper companies, both individually and market-wide.

Learn more here: www.risi.com/china.factbook

China's Top 30 Paper and Board Firms, as listed in RISI's China Pulp and Paper Factbook

Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) (HK. 2689)

Asia Pulp & Paper China

Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing (HK. 02314)

Shandong Chenming Paper Holdings (SH. 00488)

Shandong Sun Paper Industry Joint Stock (SZ. 002078)

Anhui Shanying Paper Industry (SH. 600567)

Shandong Huatai Paper Industry Shareholding (SH. 600308)

Fujian Liansheng Paper

Shandong Bohui Paper Industry (SH. 600966)

China Paper Corporation

Jiangsu Longchen Greentech

Zhejiang Jingxing Paper Joint Stock (SZ. 002067)

Dongguan Jianhui Paper

Dongguan Jintian Paper

Zhejiang Yongzheng Holding

UPM China

Shandong Century Sunshine Paper Group (HK. 2002)

Hengan International Group Company (HK. 01044)

Zhejiang Honghao Group

Zhejiang Chunsheng Group

Asia Symbol

Vinda International Holdings

Henan Jianghe Paper

Guangzhou Wanlida Paper Products

Dongguan Jinzhou Paper

Shandong Tranlin Paper

Xinxiang Xinya Paper Group

Shandong Huajin Group

About RISI (www.risi.com)
RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. The company works with clients in the pulp and paper, packaging, wood products, timber, biomass, tissue and nonwovens industries to help them make better decisions. Headquartered in Boston, MA, RISI operates additional offices throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia.