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Wood Pulp Mills in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Jullian Guirguis Jullian Guirguis New York, United States Last Updated: May 2024 NAICS 32211CA

Revenue

$8.5bn

2024

$8.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

9,404

Businesses

48

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Wood Pulp Mills in Canada industry analysis

Canadian wood pulp mills supply pulp to various downstream paper manufacturers, including paper mills, sanitary paper product manufacturers and cardboard packaging mills. This industry is highly globalized and companies derive most revenue from exports. Over the past five years, wood pulp mills have endured major revenue volatility driven by supply chain shortages and the continued decline of domestic paper manufacturers. Wood Pulp Mills industry revenue has been plummeting at a CAGR of 5.4% over the past five years and is expected to total $8.5 billion in 2024 when revenue will jump by an estimated 3.5%. Profit has remained steady over the past five years because of steady purchase costs.

Trends and Insights

  • Wood pulp mills have faced declining demand from paper product manufacturers. The shift to online business encourages companies to shift to other, more profitable markets.
  • Most companies produce chemical sulfate pulp. Companies have also ventured into more eco-friendly options, like pulp from bamboo and nonwood fibres.
  • Many companies prioritize high-population areas. These regions have a greater concentration of key manufacturing buyers and higher consumers for sanitary products.
  • More prominent companies maintain competitive advantages. These companies can supply a wider variety of pulp, spreading volatility across multiple markets.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 5.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $8.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The paperless shift has hindered the industry

  • Many of the industry's key paper manufacturing buyers, especially laminated, coated and office paper manufacturers, have steadily declined over the past decade as businesses shift to paperless data storage systems and cloud computing.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Wood Pulp Mills in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Trade markets shape the industry

  • Exports account for the majority of industry revenue. China represents a significant buyer, although exports to Indonesia have steadily dropped. Developing nations will represent a key portion of imports.

Biggest companies in the Wood Pulp Mills in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Resolute Forest Products Inc.
260.6
N/A
N/A
Domtar Corporation
121.0
N/A
N/A
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
121.0
N/A
N/A

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Wood Pulp Mills in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Chemical sulphate pulp, Dissolving pulp and Semichemical wood pulp. Chemical sulphate pulp is the largest segment of the Wood Pulp Mills in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Chemical sulphate pulp is the industry's primary product

  • Sulphate refers to the kraft process, where companies use sulphate to break down wood into wood pulp. Chemical sulphate pulp is the most popular variety of pulp used for writing, sanitary and other paper products.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Wood pulp mills primarily manufacture pulp from organic materials without processing it into paper or paperboard. The pulp is made by separating the cellulose fibres from impurities in wood or other materials such as used or recycled rags, linters, scrap paper and straw.

What's included in this industry?

Chemical sulphate pulpDissolving pulpSemichemical wood pulpOther

Companies

Resolute Forest Products Inc.Domtar CorporationWest Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BAGASSELINTERKENAFKRAFTEFFLUENT

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 32211 - Wood Pulp Mills in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Wood pulp mills have faced declining demand from paper product manufacturers. The shift to online business encourages companies to shift to other, more profitable markets.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Most companies produce chemical sulfate pulp. Companies have also ventured into more eco-friendly options, like pulp from bamboo and nonwood fibres.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Many companies prioritize high-population areas. These regions have a greater concentration of key manufacturing buyers and higher consumers for sanitary products.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

More prominent companies maintain competitive advantages. These companies can supply a wider variety of pulp, spreading volatility across multiple markets.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Vertically integrated companies maintain significant advantages. These companies can mitigate supply chain disruptions and generate more robust profit, while also leveraging ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Resolute Forest Products Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Domtar Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Resolute Forest Products Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Domtar Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Many mills are prioritizing sustainable and certified wood suppliers. Downstream buyers have pushed for more sustainable supply chains and inputs.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Wood pulp mills endure heavy profit volatility. High input prices, the pandemic and plummeting paper manufacturing demand have contributed to uncertainty.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Wood Pulp Mills industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Wood Pulp Mills industry in Canada is $8.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Wood Pulp Mills in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 48 businesses in the Wood Pulp Mills industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Wood Pulp Mills industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Wood Pulp Mills industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 5.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Wood Pulp Mills industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Wood Pulp Mills industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Wood Pulp Mills market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Wood Pulp Mills market in Canada are Resolute Forest Products Inc., Domtar Corporation and West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

What does the Wood Pulp Mills in Canada include?

Chemical sulphate pulp and Dissolving pulp are part of the Wood Pulp Mills industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Wood Pulp Mills in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Resolute Forest Products Inc..

How competitive is the Wood Pulp Mills industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Wood Pulp Mills industry in Canada.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.