Paper Industry

Paper Industry is a low investment and high labor intensive industry. It uses only waste raw materials and the durability of the paper is long with exclusive look and unique character. The paper is available in a saga of rich varieties, designs, shapes and colors. The paper industry has an important social role to play for the country. Use of Paper is considered as an index of cultural growth. Key social objectives of the Government like eradicating illiteracy, making primary education compulsory, extra cultural activities etc. are very much related to the paper industry.

In India the most popular paper industries are well established in Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. The major production area of paper are Japan, Thai, Nepal, China, Taiwan, French, Italian and Bhutan. They are among the most popular paper industries establishing a niche on the platform of a variety of papers.

Indian Paper Industry
The Indian handmade paper industry produces a variety of paper and paper products mainly by using waste materials such as cotton rags, tailor cuttings, hoisery cuttings and small quantities of waste paper. Certain materials are blended with them for mottling effects and to produce special varieties of paper. Availability of raw materials and existing infrastructural facilities offer good scope for development of special varieties of handmade paper in the North East. It also has an added advantage to earn from world market.

Due to increased literacy, industrialisation, modernisation and development by 2000 AD, the per capita consumption of paper in India may increase from the existing level of 3 kg. to 4.5 kg. The demand for paper is expected to increase from existing 21 lakh tonnes (1991-92) to 37.9 lakh tonnes by 2000 AD, while supply will reach only 27.7 lakh tonnes.

The handmade paper and its allied products offers a vast marketing scope in both inside and outside the country. Imports of paper and paper products was growing over the years. However, it has increased during 2001-02 after a fall in 2000-01. Actual import was 2.71 lakh tonnes in 1998-99, 2.02 lakh tonnes in 1999-00, 1.39 lakh tonnes in 2000-01, 1.67 lakhs tonnes in 2001-02 and 1.23 lakh tonnes upto November, 2002. About 1,40,000 tonnes of paper was exported in 2000-01 mainly to the neighbouring countries.

Indian Export Martket
From the past many years handmade paper industry in India has been exporting certain exclusive varieties like deckle edge stationery drawing paper, mottle paper, etc. to the western countries. Foreign buyers like USA, Germany, UK, Canada, Italy, Sweden, Australia, Singapore and Hongkong are purchasing handmade paper from India because handmade paper production in India by all means is low as compared to the production areas abroad. Indian handmade papers have created a sensation in the world market. However there is growing urge to use eco-friendly products. Different countries use these handmade paper differently. Some use it as decorative papers, some as stationery, some as artistic paper and so on.

Japanese Paper Industry
Japan is the third largest paper and paperboard producing country. Shipment in 1999 topped 7.8 trillion yen and ranked 13th in 22 manufacturing industries. It manufactures a range of products for sale primarily within Japan and consumes organic fibers for these products from dispersed domestic and foreign forests, plantation and cities.

As with the modern global paper industry, the recent growth of the Japanese industry has been characterised by cycles of capacity expansion, market collapse, excess capacity and low prices and profits. The transnational flow of fibre through the Japanese paper industry links dispersed economies and environments. Paper and paperboard production in 2002 was 30,690 thousand tons, which was 1.5 times as much as recorded in 1985 and 1.1 times that of 1990.

With regard to trade, exports reached record hieghts in 1999, increasing by 30% on the year earlier period. This was mainly due to the Asian economic recovery and a weaker domestic market. But imports decreased by 10% despite the rise in fine papers from Indonesia and abroad. The Japan Paper Association believed that domestic demand for paper and board will grow by 1.5% in 2000, to reach 31,467,000 tons. Later the paper production was increased and it made a dramatic name in the paper industries spread globally.

Chinese Paper Industry
China is investing heavily in state of the art papermaking equipment and mills. They will soon have the biggest and best machines. As the most rapidly expanding economy, they have urgent needs for paper, towel, and tissue. In addition, since they export so many products now, they need paper board for shipping containers and boxes.

The per capita comsumption of paper in 1995 was about 28 kgs and the paper capacity was 33,000,000 tons and alarge number of employees were engaged in the paper industry. Later better handmade paper were made using woodfree pulp increasing the production and consumption of paper in the country.

In China the annual yield of paper and paper board has increased by an average of 10% from 1978 to 1998 and amounts to 35 million tons in 2000.It's expected that the annual output will reach into 45 million tons in 2005 and 60 million tons in 2010. No doubt, Chinese paper market is very prospective.

Korean Paper Industry
Koreans have a centuries-old history of paper-making and have long enjoyed using high-quality indigenous paper. Korea's oldest paper, called maji, was made from hemp.

The Korea Paper Manufacturers' Association released the survey result that domestic paper producers were having an annual capacity of 8,992 million tons. Thus the domestic paper industry has a combined production capacity close to 9 million tons, to live up to its name as one of the ten largest global paper producers. Taking into account that current expansion and new establishment should go into full swing from 1997, then Korea's capacity is expected to stand at 10.83 million tons a year.

Bhutan Paper Industry
Hand-made paper in Bhutan sells well on both the domestic and foreign markets. Demand from Sweden and the United Kingdom amounts to about 30,000 sheets a year. Japan, Australia and USA also imports a good numbe rof paper from Bhutan.

The paper and paperboard production in 1996-1998 was thousand metric ton. Paper and paperboard production is the amount of primary paper and paperboard produced, even though a portion of it may immediately be consumed in the production of another product. Paper and paperboard includes newsprint, printing and writing paper, packaging paper, household and sanitary paper, and other paper and paperboard.

There are number of raw materials that are used to make hight quality paper in Bhutan.

Availability of raw materials for traditional paper making in Bhutan:

Location	Area (acres)	Quantity (kg.)
Korila	80	1,600
Gasawang-Khengkhag	30	600
Yalang	2,500	50,000
Trashiyangtse
Khamdang
Phongmey
Bikhar
Wamrong	250	5,000
Dremtsi	50	1,000
Dhag-sa-Manang	498	9,960
Total	3,408 *	68,160

Taiwan Paper Industry
Taiwan's paper and paperboard industry has grown dramatically over the past many years. In 1945, production of paper and paper products totaled 14,000 tons. In 1980s production capabilities was rapidly expanding and in 1990s the annual industry output hovered at about 4.5 million tons. After 1990 the paper and paperboard industry in Taiwan has seen a slight annual rise in all areas including production, exports, imports, and apparent consumption.

There is no stability in the production and consumption of paper and paper products. In 2000, total paper and paperboard production climbed 3.3 percent to reach 4.4 million tons, but per capita consumption fell by 0.7 percent. Later, total production in 2003 climbed 3.2 percent to reach 4.5 million tons, yet per capita consumption increased by 5.4 percent over 2002 totals.

Taiwan's paper industry has also benefited from laws enacted in 2001 governing waste recycling. According to the law several watse materials were recycled to make paper. The production rate then reached 88.3 percent in 2003. Taiwan also imports wastepaper out of which approximately 35.6 percent was imported from North America and another 36.7 percent from Europe.

In 2003, the Taiwan paper industry used 1.2 million tons of virgin pulp. Of that figure, 384,000 tons of pulp was supplied domestically, whereas imports totaled 784,000 tons. Taiwan also used 4 million tons in 2003, of which 2.9 million tons were supplied domestically.

The paper and paperboard industry plays an important role in Taiwan's economy because it employs more than 21,000 workers and generates $3 billion a year in revenues. The paper and paperboard industry also accounts for approximately 3.9 percent of the country's GDP.

French Paper Industry
French paper industry ranks 9th in the world and fourth in Europe. It is the one of the growing paper industry of the world and has a good name in the world market. A wide number and variety of handmade papers are been exported and imported to France. After 1390 the paper making tradition crossed the German border to France by a crusader while he was imprisoned by the Arabs.

Paper consumption in France is in various forms. It is consumed in the form of graphics, packaging, decorative etc. It is said to be around 44.8% for graphic uses, 44.3% for packaging and conditioning, 7.0% for sanitary and domestic uses.

Key Figures of the French Paper Industry
Since 1994 the apparent consumption of paper and paperboard increased by 1.3% per year. 55.9% 55.9% of the French production of paper is exported and 59.2% is met by imports. In 2004, 2.5 million Tons of pulp were produced in France, which represents 62.6% of the total pulp consumption of the French paper industry. In 2003, 185 million Tons of paper were produced in the world, of which 2.5 million in France.

In 2004 the production of paper is said to be 10.2 thousand ton and the production of pulp is 2.5 thousand tons. The apparent consumtion of paper is 11.1 thousand ton. The annual turn over is said to be 6.0 billion Euro in 2004.

Raw Materials Used
The French paper industry consumed 8.9 million Tons of wood and 5.9 million Tons of recovered paper and cardboard in 2004. Wood used by the French paper industry is constituted of 70% roundwood and 30% related sawmill waste. 61% comes from resinous wood and 39% from foliate wood. 93% of the wood used is of French origin.The utilisation rate of recovered paper and cardboard of the French paper industry attained 58.0% in 2004. This figure places this industry at the first rank of recycling in France

Italian Paper Industry
Italy is said to be the cradle of European papermaking. Paper production and consumption in Italy has grown leading to an increase in imports of both paper and raw materials. However, the sector has experienced a slowdown in production and consumption since its peak growth levels in 2000. Between 1993 and 2002, national production increased by an average of 3.3% and reached 9.27 million tons by the latter year. By 2002, consumption had reached 10.99 million tons of which 4.53 million tons were imports.

The main paper and paperboard products ranges from press papers from speciality papers. The press paper represents about 42% of total paper industry revenue and 37% of total paper industry production in terms of weight. Production of this paper requires cellulose fibers, except for newsprint, which requires waste paper. Paper for packaging, representing 33% of total paper industry revenue and 47% of total paper industry production in terms of weight. Paper for hygienic, domestic and sanitary use, representing 13% of the paper national production of paper. paper for special use represents a small percent of only 5% of the total production of paper in Italy.

Italy suffered from scarcity of wood and hence faced a great problem in the production of paper. According to Assocarta , the association of paper industries in Italy, the total revenue in 2002 reached € 7490 million, having declined by 6% from 2000. Due to current data, Assocarta predicts that the paper industry will encounter a production and consumption fall in the near future. Ongoing challenges will include low level of internal demand and increasing production costs associated with energy expenditures.

Traditionally the Italian paper industry has not been partcularly international. However, between 1993 and 2002 the export/production level increased from 23.9% to 30.4%. Currently, European countries represent about 70% of the international market to Italian producers. Italian industries abroad utilize primarily local distributors.

Philippines Paper Industry
From 1995 to 1999, Philippine homemade paper made an lasting impression in the global market of paper. The average export of paper was said to be 120.22 million dollars annually. High quality handmade papers made Filipino a byword among international buyers.

The Handmade Paper Industry of Philippines is highly export-oriented. The total export share of the world in terms of paper was said to be 96% in 1999 and Philippines contributed 24% of the total handmade paper exports. The papers are been exported to a number of countries including U.S., Australia, Europe, and Japan.

Today there are about more than 100 handmade paper manufacturers in Philippines. Among the more successful ones is in Los Banos, Laguna, managed by Fe Frialde. Frialde started in 1986 with five people working in one room.