Paper manufacturing spans finished paper and paperboard, upstream wood pulp, installed mill capacity, trade, recovered fiber and post-consumer waste. The statistics below keep those populations separate and identify the measurement year, geography, units and whether a figure is observed or estimated.
Key Paper Manufacturing Statistics
The most useful headline figures are:
- In 2023, world paper and paperboard production was 401 million tonnes.
- In 2023, world paper and paperboard trade was 104 million tonnes.
- In 2023, global graphic-paper production was 84 million tonnes.
- In 2023, global wood-pulp production reached 193 million tonnes.
- In 2023, global wood-pulp trade reached 71 million tonnes.
- In 2023, U.S. paper and paperboard capacity was 79.7 million short tons.
- In 2023, U.S. paper and paperboard production declined 7.2%.
- In 2023, U.S. printing-writing capacity fell below 10 million tons.
- In 2023, printing-writing represented 12% of U.S. paper and paperboard capacity.
- In 2023, Cepi-member countries produced 73.9 million tonnes of paper and board.
- In 2023, containerboard and other packaging paper accounted for 27.9 million tonnes of Cepi production.
- In 2023, Cepi mills used 44.0 million tonnes of paper for recycling.
- In 2023, the reported Cepi recycling rate was 79.3% for its defined Europe.
- In 2018, U.S. paper and paperboard MSW generation was 67.4 million tons.
- In 2018, U.S. paper and paperboard recycling was approximately 46.0 million tons.
- In 2018, U.S. paper and paperboard packaging had an 80.9% recycling rate.
- In 2018, U.S. corrugated boxes had a 96.5% recycling rate.
Contents
- Global paper manufacturing production, trade and graphic-paper trends
- U.S. paper manufacturing capacity and production data
- European paper manufacturing statistics by grade and market
- Recovered paper use and recycling in paper manufacturing
- U.S. paper and paperboard waste-generation statistics
- Paper packaging manufacturing and end-of-life data
Global Paper Manufacturing Production, Trade and Graphic-Paper Trends
FAO’s global forest-products statistics report 401 million tonnes of world paper and paperboard production in 2023, down 3% from 2022. The aggregate covers paper and paperboard products rather than a single grade or end use. FAO, “Global forest products facts and figures 2023 shows fall in global trade in wood and paper products”
The same 2023 global series records 104 million tonnes of paper and paperboard trade, down 7% and the lowest level since 2010. Trade quantity is not the same measure as production because it counts cross-border movement.
| Global measure | 2023 result | Change or scope |
|---|---|---|
| Paper and paperboard production | 401 million tonnes | Down 3% from 2022 |
| Paper and paperboard trade | 104 million tonnes | Down 7%; lowest since 2010 |
| Graphic-paper production | 84 million tonnes | Down 9%; lowest since 1987 |
| Wood-pulp production | 193 million tonnes | Down 2% |
| Wood-pulp trade | 71 million tonnes | Up 3%; record level |
Graphic paper was a particularly declining segment: global production fell 9% in 2023 to 84 million tonnes, the lowest level since 1987. Other paper and paperboard production, which excludes graphic papers, decreased 3% globally in 2023.
Wood pulp provides an upstream context but is not finished paper output. Global wood-pulp production reached 193 million tonnes in 2023, down 2%, while wood-pulp trade reached a record 71 million tonnes, up 3%.
The broader value measure also needs careful labeling. Wood and paper products exports fell by $64 billion to $482 billion in 2023, a 12% decline from the record 2021–2022 level; this value combines wood and paper products and is not a paper-only export total.
U.S. Paper Manufacturing Capacity and Production Data
AF&PA reports that U.S. paper and paperboard capacity was 79.7 million tons in 2023, down 1.6%. Capacity means installed capability, not the amount mills actually produced. AF&PA, “AF&PA Details U.S. Paper Production and Capacity Trends”
U.S. paper and paperboard production declined 7.2% in 2023. Across 2014–2023, reported capacity declined by an average 0.9% per year, a trend measure rather than a single-year output statistic.
Printing-writing paper shows the product-mix shift. Its U.S. capacity dropped 5.0% in 2023, fell below 10 million tons for the first time in more than 50 years, and represented 12% of total paper and paperboard capacity in 2023, compared with 28% in 2000.
| U.S. capacity measure | Period | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Paper and paperboard capacity | 2023 | 79.7 million tons |
| Paper and paperboard capacity trend | 2014–2023 | Average decline of 0.9% per year |
| Printing-writing capacity change | 2023 | Down 5.0% |
| Printing-writing share of capacity | 2023 | 12% |
| Printing-writing share of capacity | 2000 | 28% |
AF&PA’s reported printing-writing capacity trend declined 7.1% on the three-year trend and 6.9% on the ten-year trend through 2023. These are reported trend measures, not equivalent to 2023 production changes.
Capacity additions and removals occurred simultaneously. Four U.S. machines added 2.1 million tons of containerboard and packaging-paper capacity in 2023, while more than 1.7 million tons of mostly wood-fiber capacity were permanently removed; additions are not the same as net capacity change.
European Paper Manufacturing Statistics by Grade and Market
Cepi-member countries produced 73.9 million tonnes of paper and board in 2023. Preliminary figures show production decreased 12.8% from 2022, and Cepi coverage is not identical to all Europe. Cepi, “Key Statistics 2023”
Cepi paper and board consumption was 62.7 million tonnes in 2023. In this report, apparent consumption equals production plus extra-area imports minus extra-area exports; imports were 4.2 million tonnes and exports were 15.5 million tonnes.
The 2023 Cepi production mix included 27.9 million tonnes of containerboard and other packaging paper, 7.5 million tonnes of printing and writing papers, 7.5 million tonnes of household and sanitary paper, and 2.6 million tonnes of newsprint. Newsprint is separate from the broader printing-writing category in the report’s graphic.
| Cepi production or market measure | 2023 result | Definition or scope |
|---|---|---|
| Paper and board production | 73.9 million tonnes | Cepi member countries |
| Paper and board consumption | 62.7 million tonnes | Apparent consumption |
| Containerboard and other packaging paper | 27.9 million tonnes | Cepi grade grouping |
| Printing and writing papers | 7.5 million tonnes | Cepi grade grouping |
| Household and sanitary paper | 7.5 million tonnes | Cepi grade grouping |
| Newsprint | 2.6 million tonnes | Separate grade in the production graphic |
Cepi recycled-pulp production was 35.0 million tonnes in 2023. Recycled-pulp production should not be treated as identical to the quantity of paper made from recycled fiber.
Recovered Paper Use and Recycling in Paper Manufacturing
Cepi countries collected 51.6 million tonnes of paper for recycling in 2023, while Cepi mills used 44.0 million tonnes. Collection includes unusable non-fiber material, and utilisation includes material that is not all usable fiber.
The two quantities therefore should not be read as a simple collection-rate calculation.
Cepi countries exported 9.4 million tonnes of paper for recycling and imported 1.8 million tonnes in 2023. Utilisation decreased 6.9% from 2022, and trade quantities are distinct from mill consumption.
Case materials represented 42% of Cepi paper and board production and had a 95% utilisation rate for paper for recycling in 2023. Case materials used 67% of the industry’s total paper-for-recycling volume.
Cepi’s 2023 recycling-rate series reported a 79.3% recycling rate and a three-year moving average of 73.3% for Europe defined as the EU-27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Cepi warns that the unusually high 2023 rate is partly explained by low apparent consumption and excludes stocks in the supply chain.
U.S. Paper and Paperboard Waste-Generation Statistics
EPA’s 2018 U.S. municipal solid waste estimates describe post-consumer materials entering the waste-management system, not mill production or office-paper use. Paper and paperboard generation was 67.4 million tons, equal to 23.1% of total MSW generation. EPA, “Paper and Paperboard: Material-Specific Data”
Approximately 46.0 million tons were recycled in 2018, a 68.2% recycling rate. Combustion with energy recovery was 4.2 million tons, or 12.2% of all MSW combusted, while landfills received 17.2 million tons, or 11.8% of MSW landfilled.
| U.S. paper and paperboard MSW measure | Period | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Generation | 2018 | 67.4 million tons; 23.1% of MSW |
| Recycling | 2018 | Approximately 46.0 million tons; 68.2% |
| Combustion with energy recovery | 2018 | 4.2 million tons; 12.2% of MSW combusted |
| Landfilling | 2018 | 17.2 million tons; 11.8% of MSW landfilled |
EPA’s historical series estimates paper and paperboard generation at 87.74 million tons in 2000 and 67.39 million tons in 2018. Recycling rose from 37.56 million tons in 2000 to 45.97 million tons in 2018, including 44.17 million tons in 2017 and 45.97 million tons in 2018.
Landfilling fell from 40.45 million tons in 2000 to 17.22 million tons in 2018. In 2018, paper nondurable goods excluding newspapers had a 43.1% recycling rate, while newspapers had a 64.8% rate; both are product-group measures rather than a universal paper rate.
Paper Packaging Manufacturing and End-of-Life Data
EPA estimated that U.S. paper and paperboard containers and packaging generated 41.9 million tons of MSW in 2018, or 14.3% of total generation. This is a product-specific post-consumer estimate, not a measure of packaging mill output. EPA, “Containers and Packaging: Product-Specific Data”
Paper and paperboard packaging recycling was 33.89 million tons in 2018, with an overall recycling rate of 80.9%. Combustion with energy recovery represented 3.7% of packaging generation and landfilling represented 15.4%.
Corrugated boxes accounted for 33.3 million tons of U.S. generation in 2018, or 11.4% of total MSW generation. Approximately 32.1 million tons were recycled, producing a 96.5% recycling rate; combustion with energy recovery was 230,000 tons and landfilling was 940,000 tons.
Other paper packaging contributed about 1.8 million tons to paper-packaging recycling in 2018, excluding corrugated boxes. The category covers smaller packaging groups such as cartons and sacks.
| U.S. packaging measure | 2018 result | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Paper and paperboard packaging generation | 41.9 million tons | 14.3% of total MSW |
| Paper and paperboard packaging recycling | 33.89 million tons | Overall packaging category |
| Packaging recycling rate | 80.9% | All paper packaging in the category |
| Corrugated-box generation | 33.3 million tons | 11.4% of total MSW |
| Corrugated-box recycling | Approximately 32.1 million tons | 96.5% rate |
The historical packaging series estimates generation increased from 39.94 million tons in 2000 to 41.90 million tons in 2018. Packaging recycling increased from 21.04 million tons in 2000 to 33.89 million tons in 2018, showing why packaging-specific outcomes should be kept separate from the broader paper-and-paperboard MSW series.