Cut size uncoated freesheet paper refers to a type of graphic paper that is manufactured by using about 10% mechanical pulp and 90% chemical pulp. This paper is available in rectangular sheets in three sizes— 210 mm*297 mm (A4), 215 mm*345 mm (legal), and 297 mm*420 mm (A3). A4-sized uncoated freesheet paper is preferred over other types of papers due to its higher compatibility with a variety of printers, such as laser and inkjet printers, and lower cost.
As cut size uncoated freesheet paper is compatible with a variety of papers, the surging printer sales are expected to accelerate the cut size uncoated freesheet paper market at a CAGR of 2.4% during 2018–2023. The market revenue stood at $16,122.3 million in 2017 and it is projected to reach $18,483.6 million by 2023. Printers are used for producing textual and graphical output received from a computer on a printable medium, such as paper.
Additionally, the increasing number of school-going children in urban and rural areas of developing countries, such as Brazil and India, will also augment the need for cut size uncoated freesheet paper in the coming years. For instance, as per the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2019–2020 published by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Government of India, there were more than 15 lakh schools, over 25 crore students, and around 97 lakh teachers in India in 2017–18.
Moreover, the increasing construction of new office buildings in India and China will also create a huge requirement for paper in the foreseeable future. As high volumes of cut size uncoated freesheet paper is used for writing and printing purposes in offices, the rising shift of manufacturing base from the Western part of the world to these countries will fuel the consumption of this grade of paper in the coming years. This grade of paper is used in offices for writing, publishing, printing business envelopes and forms, and commercial printing.
Apart from the commercial and educational sector, the residential sector is also using high volumes of cut size uncoated freesheet paper, due to the rising use of printers in this sector. Paper manufacturers, such as Domtar Corporation, Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd., Shandong Sun Holdings Group, International Paper Company, PT Pabrik Kertas Tjiwi Kimia Tbk., Asia Symbol, The Navigator Company S.A., PT. Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk, Mondi Group, Smurfit Kappa Group plc, and UPM Group, are producing large volumes of this grade of paper to cater to the demands of individuals, corporates, and educational institutes.
According to P&S Intelligence, Asia-Pacific (APAC) dominated the cut size uncoated freesheet paper market in the past and it is expected to retain its dominance in the coming years as well. This can be attributed to the soaring number of educational institutes and offices and the flourishing paper industry in the region. Moreover, the mounting printer sales in the region will also boost the consumption of this grade of paper in the forthcoming years. Additionally, the APAC region is also expected to adopt cut size uncoated freesheet paper at the highest rate in the forthcoming years.
Thus, the surging adoption of printers and the rising number of educational institutes in emerging economies will fuel the consumption of cut size uncoated freesheet paper in the foreseeable future.
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