South Korea Pulp and Paper Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032

South Korea Pulp and Paper Market Outlook

The South Korea market for pulp and paper is expected to reach a value of more than USD 13.92 billion in 2032. The South Korea pulp and paper market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.20% between 2024 and 2032. The growing consumer awareness regarding eco-friendly products and packaging is the key factor propelling the market growth.

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News and Developments in the Market

Leading cosmetics key players in South Korea are opting for sustainable packaging.  In 2021, Amorepacific unveiled its eco-friendly packaging with a nano-thin film, which is expected to reduce plastic usage by 70%. Research is being done to develop 100% compostable product packaging for the market. The brand also set up refill stations for shampoo and body washes to reduce plastic waste.

In 2020, Kolmar Korea, a cosmetics research company, developed paper tube packaging which has been commercialised in 2021 for various cosmetics brands to put into use It is believed to reduce plastic use by 80%. In 2021, wellness and beauty store, Olive Young, pledged to include more brands, increase promotions, and raise the sales of sustainable and clean products to 100 billion won ($99.9 million)

Kolmar Korea  known for their eco-friendly technology, won three major international awards for their paper tubes. The company is accelerating research and development while partnering with HDC Hyundai EP, a producer of plastic materials, and Dongwon Systems, one of the largest packaging material companies in South Korea, to create eco-friendly cosmetic packaging materials. 

In addition, Kolmar Korea uses bio-conversion technology to make eco-friendly materials using microorganisms and enzymes, unlike conventional processes that require chemical synthesis.

Key Trends in the South Korea Pulp and Paper Market

The pulp and paper industry is one of the largest industries in the world. Pulp and paper products are biodegradable in nature, thus aiding in preserving the environment. These products are mainly derived from wood, husk, and straw, among others. South Korea is the world’s fifth largest  paper-making country despite the world despite of limited forest resources in the country. 

The Ever-Growing Demand for Eco-Friendly products in South Korea

The South Korea paper and pulp market is projected to expand owing to consumers' increasing demand for sustainable packaging. Due to increasing awareness, customers prefer to buy environmentally sustainable products. Therefore, all the FMCG companies are now shifting toward eco-friendly packaging, which has spiked the paper and pulp market demand in South Korea and has led to intensive research and development in the industry. Growing consumer awareness regarding recycling and waste management has also contributed to the development of the pulp and paper industry in South Korea.

Government Initiatives to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The government of South Korea has banned the usage of single-use plastic in the country , which has propelled the market growth exponentially. According to the Ministry of Environment, South Korea aimed to bring down their percentage of plastic waste by 20 per cent while accelerating its recycling rate to 70 per cent by 2025. Moreover, by 2030, the country is anticipated to lessen their greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent. The government is putting efforts to gradually shift from fossil fuels to a completely renewable energy system. These environmental initiatives are expected to augment the paper and pulp market in the region.

Food Service Establishments in South Korea to Charge Customers 25 Cents for Plastic Cutleries

The Ministry of Environment is planning to standardize the size of single-use plastic and paper cups used at the franchises' fast food to ease the collection after their usage. By June 2023, food service establishments such as cafes, restaurants, and bakeries have started charging customers 300 Korean won  (25 cents) for every plastic or paper cup, which is refunded to the customer once they return it. These single-use plastic or paper cups are manufactured with a barcode to maintain transparency in the system. Moreover, the companies who will not act in accordance with this regulation will be fined up to 10 million won (approximately 7665 $). Such initiatives by the government serves as a catalyst in motivating people to opt for a sustainable living and help in the expansion of the paper and pulp industry.

Opportunities in the South Korea Pulp and Paper Market

COVID-19 Pandemic Upsurged the Usage of Tissue Papers and Anti-Microbial Wipes

Subsidiaries of Kimberly Clark,  that is Huggies, Cottonelle, Kleenex, and ScottTissue donated toilet paper in South Korea as well as all the affected countries all around the world. Furthermore, due to the risk of spreading the coronavirus, people started paying more attention to their hygiene habits, which positively impacted tissue paper usage across the country. The anti-microbial tissues are used to sanitise the surfaces in order to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases. The demand for such sanitising products grew dramatically after COVID-19, which boosted the market for paper and pulp as they are used in the manufacturing of various sanitising products and their packaging in the market. Additionally, due to high disposable income and a high standard of living, people are willing to spend their money on such products in the market.

Rapid Growth of E-commerce and Revision of disposable Rules in the South Korea

According to the World Bank, internet penetration in South Korea during the 2020 reached 97 per cent which has greatly boosted the online retailing options in the country. Moreover, extended lockdowns to prevent the widespread of coronavirus also contributed towards the booming of e-commerce platforms. Furthermore, due to busy lifestyles and poor work-life balance, people prefer shopping on e-commerce platforms.

South Korea is known for their organised waste recycling system. The government of South Korea has recently revised their disposable wastes regulations to accelerate the adoption of eco-friendly products. This act has positively impacted the market for paper and pulp in South Korea. One of the South Korean provinces, Gyeyang-gu, prohibits the use of single-use plastic products in all food service businesses. This has increased the demand for paper bags and paper-based packaging in the region.

Growing Consumers’ preference for Premium Products to Bolster the Chemical Pulping Sector

The consumers’ demand for premium white paper has boosted the chemical pulp sector. The end users of this high-quality paper product are corporates and educational institutions. This sector is anticipated to grow further during the given forecast period. Moreover, consumers are now much more inclined to use paper and paperboard packaging as they are biodegradable in nature and do not cause harm to our environment. Florists and bakers, among other professionals, now use paper or pulp-based packaging for their products, and many premium brands have also opted for such packaging to promote sustainability and attract environmentally conscious customers.

Challenges in the South Korea Pulp and Paper Market

The popularity of Digital Media and the Growing Risk of Environmental Pollution

Environmental Degradation Caused by Pulp and Paper Mills to Restrict the Market Growth. Usually, pulp and paper mills require a large quantity of water supply for manufacturing. The wastewater generated by these mills is released into the water bodies, contaminating them and increasing their toxicity level. With the growing environmental concerns consumers as well as companies are shifting to online platforms. Also, digital marketing is a much more economical method to provide better exposure to the companies.

Market Analysis

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Based on the pulp source, the South Korea paper and pulp market can be segmented into wood pulp, non-wood pulp, and recycled pulp. Based on application, the South Korea pulp and paper market can be segmented into wrapping and packaging, printing and writing, News print, and sanitary papers, among others.

The comprehensive EMR report provides an in-depth assessment of the market based on the Porter's five forces model along with giving a SWOT analysis. The report gives a detailed analysis of the following key players in the South Korea pulp and paper market, covering their competitive landscape and latest developments like mergers, acquisitions, investments and expansion plans. 

• Moorim Paper Co., Ltd

• Hankuk Paper Mfg.Co.Ltd

• Hansol Paper., Ltd

• Jinju Paper Mfg.Co.Ltd

• Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) Sinar Mas.

• Others

Share by Pulp Source

The wood segments have a significant market share in the industry. The most commonly used non-wood raw materials in the South Korea pulp and paper market are wheat straw, bamboo, and sugarcane bagasse, among others. Their market of non-wood and recycled pulp is expected to grow further due to the increasing awareness and government initiatives to preserve forests, as they are the natural habitat of various flora and fauna.

Share by Application

The South Korea pulp and paper market has been growing steadily, making the country the fifth largest paper manufacturing nation in the world. Due to consumers' awareness and government regulations, the wrapping and packaging segment will continue to lead the pulp and paper market during the coming forecast period. The upsurge of e-commerce and government initiatives has increased the demand for eco-friendly paper packaging in various industries such as cosmetics, food service, and FMCG. 

The news print sector experienced a slight downfall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the market is expected to grow during the given period. Additionally, with increased disposable income, people's desire for an improved standard of living also increases. Therefore, consumers are now willing to spend more on personal hygiene products, thereby expanding the share of the sanitary paper sector in the market.

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Competitive Landscape 

Moorim Paper Co, Ltd. - The company Moorim Paper Co, Ltd. was established in 1973, and they produce industrial printing paper. The company sells board paper, uncoated non-wood paper, MFC, and coated gloss papers. The business is headquartered in Jinju, in the South Korean province of Gyeongsangnam. In 2021, the company launched biodegradable packaging at Daegu Machinery Expo. The product is made with natural pulp without using any chemical processing in its manufacturing.

Hankuk Paper Mfg. Co., Ltd. - manufactures printing writing paper, speciality paper. They also produce and sell shopping bags, postage stamps, wall-base paper, copy paper and more. The headquarter is in Seoul, and a working paper mill factory in Ulsan, South Korea, Hankuk Paper Mfg. Co., Ltd. The business was established in 1958.

Key Highlights of the Report