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In 2005, world consumption of specialty paper chemicals was valued at approximately
$12 billion; consumption of commodity chemicals for pulp and paper production
was worth an additional $6 billion. Byvolume,chemicalandmechanicalpulps account
for approximately 50% of total raw material consumption while recycled paper
accounts for a share of about 32%. Commodity-type chemicals such as chlorine
and oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, sodium salts and sulfuric acid (used mainly
in pulp production), and fillers and pigments (mostly China clay and calcium
carbonate) represent about 15% of total raw material consumption. The remaining
3% consists of alum and aluminum compounds; specialty paper chemicals, including
starches; and synthetic paper chemicals. To reduce costs and achieve environmental
and regulatory compliance objectives, the use of virgin fibers (especially
chemical pulps) and alum is expected to decrease, while recycled paper fibers,
fillers and pigments, and specialty paper chemicals will extend their share
in the raw material mix of the paper and board industry. The following pie
chart shows world consumption of specialty paper chemicals:
Specialty paper chemicals can be classified into three groups according to
their function and point of use in the paper production process:
- Pulp and fiber treatment chemicals such as bleaching, pulping
and deinking chemicals
- Processing aids, which are used to improve the efficiency
of paper production including defoamers, pitch-control agents, biocides/slimicides,
and retention and drainage aids
- Functional chemicals, which are used to impart various
properties to the finished paper, ranging from improved strength and optical
properties to enhanced printability (dry- and wet-strength resins, sizing
agents, coating binders and specialties, as well as dyes, pigments and fluorescent
whitening agents)
Specialty paper chemicals help to reduce the consumption of water and energy
and increase the use of wastepaper as well as save raw materials by decreasing
the paper grammage without sacrificing functional or optical properties of
the paper sheet. They also enabled the tremendous speed increase of paper machines.
Often, they are formulations of several chemicals, but there are also many
single-chemical products. Water treatment chemicals used in the paper industry
are not included in the specialty paper chemicals category.
Specialty paper chemical consumption is expected to increase at an average
annual rate of 0.6% in the NAFTA region, 2–2.5% in Europe and 0.9% in
Japan during 2005–2010. However, growth in China will occur at a rate
of 7.5–8.0% per year as new paper production capacity is added, and higher
grades of paper are produced.
Functional chemicals represent the largest group of specialty paper chemicals,
accounting for approximately 75% of total consumption, followed by processing
aids with 15%, and pulp and fiber treatment chemicals with 10%. Pigment binders/coatings
are the largest segment within the specialty paper chemicals group, accounting
for 30% of total consumption, followed by dry-strength additives with 17%.
Consolidation and globalization among pulp and paper manufacturers and their
resulting interest in working with fewer suppliers and in standardizing their
products with the same chemical supplier in multiple locations is a key force
shaping the specialty paper chemicals industry worldwide. The market for specialty
paper chemicals has traditionally been highly fragmented. Paper companies are
pursuing ever-larger supply contracts, achieving volume discounts and at the
same time requiring supplier companies to provide goods and services globally
to all of their locations.
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