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Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Robert Maier Robert Maier Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: September 2024 WZ C17.12DE

Revenue

€17.3bn

2024

€17.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

36,338

Businesses

133

Wages

€X.Xbn

Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing in Germany industry analysis

The paper, cardboard and paperboard manufacturing industry has experienced an ambivalent development over the past five years. While demand for packaging materials has increased over time due to growing online trade, demand in other areas has declined. Especially in the area of graphic papers, which are used in newspaper and magazine printing, manufacturers have recently lost numerous customers due to the declining circulation figures of newspaper and magazine publishers. Sales have fallen by an average of 3.1% per year since 2019.In 2024, the industry's turnover is expected to be 17.3 billion euros, which corresponds to a decline of 3.9% compared to 2023. The production of paper is extremely energy-intensive, which is why companies in the industry were hit hard by the increases in electricity and gas prices triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The passing on of these cost increases had a very negative impact on paper production in 2022 and 2023, especially as many customers in the industry had previously built up high inventories. For the current year, IBISWorld expects the sales situation in the industry to gradually stabilise. On the one hand, the demand situation is likely to improve minimally overall compared to the previous year, while on the other hand, the players in the graphic paper sector are likely to take further capacity from the market in 2024. By 2029, turnover in the sector is expected to increase by an average of 2.8% per year to 19.8 billion euros. Mail order and online retail in particular are likely to provide positive impetus in the coming years. At the same time, the number of companies in the sector is likely to decrease. Smaller and technically outdated production facilities are likely to be closed by their operators and production is likely to be concentrated in larger and modern facilities.

Trends and Insights

  • In recent years, the increasing popularity of online mail order has led to a huge increase in demand for paper packaging materials. As a result, more manufacturers have focussed on this market segment.
  • Progressive digitalisation is causing the market for graphic papers to shrink. Demand for graphic papers has declined in recent years, mainly due to the increase in digital communication.
  • Most of the paper industry's companies are located in the centre region. With around 7,000 employees and around 30 companies, North Rhine-Westphalia is the leading location for the paper industry in Germany.
  • The competition between manufacturers of paper, cardboard and paperboard on the market is very intense. Companies benefit greatly from economies of scale and scope and high barriers to market entry.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 3.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €17.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The newsprint market has shrunk in recent years due to advancing digitalisation

  • Newspaper publishers' print sales have been falling continuously since 2019. While the average paid circulation of daily and Sunday newspapers was still 14.9 million in 2019, it was only around 11.5 million last year. Magazine publishers' sales have also fallen in recent years.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing in Germany
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

The paper industry has good long-term business prospects, although consolidation is likely to continue

  • The market for paper, cardboard and paperboard products should stabilise over the next few years following the recent decline in production.

Biggest companies in the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
UPM-Kymmene Oyj
1,395.0
Papierfabrik Palm GmbH & Co. KG
739.0
Sappi Ltd.
732.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Paper for packaging purposes, Graphic papers and Paper for technical and special applications. Paper for packaging purposes is the largest segment of the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Domestic paper production is now dominated by manufacturers of paper for packaging purposes

  • By far the most important products in this category are fluting and liner papers for the production of corrugated cardboard, the most commonly used material for transport and sales packaging in Germany.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This sector deals with the production of paper, cardboard and paperboard for industrial processing. This industry also includes the wrapping, coating and embossing of paper, cardboard and paperboard as well as the production of crepe and folding paper.

What's included in this industry?

Paper for packaging purposesGraphic papersPaper for technical and special applicationsNewsprint

Companies

UPM-Kymmene OyjPapierfabrik Palm GmbH & Co. KGSappi Ltd.

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CELLULOSEBRIDGE PAPERCELLULOSE MATERIAL

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 17.12 - Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing in Germany

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

In recent years, the increasing popularity of online mail order has led to a huge increase in demand for paper packaging materials. As a result, more manufacturers have focus...

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

Progressive digitalisation is causing the market for graphic papers to shrink. Demand for graphic papers has declined in recent years, mainly due to the increase in digital c...

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

Most of the paper industry's companies are located in the centre region. With around 7,000 employees and around 30 companies, North Rhine-Westphalia is the leading location f...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

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

Tables

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

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, 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

The competition between manufacturers of paper, cardboard and paperboard on the market is very intense. Companies benefit greatly from economies of scale and scope and high b...

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

Because the demand for graphic papers has developed rapidly, UPM has been forced to reduce production capacity in this area worldwide in recent years. At the beginning of 202...

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 UPM-Kymmene Oyj's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Papierfabrik Palm GmbH & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Sappi Ltd.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for UPM-Kymmene Oyj, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Papierfabrik Palm GmbH & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Sappi Ltd., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

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

Analyst insights

The EU Timber Regulation is intended to counteract the trade in illegally harvested timber. Because pulp and paper are covered by the EU Timber Regulation, players in the ind...

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

In recent years, the industry's profit margin has fluctuated greatly. In the second half of the last five-year period in particular, volatile raw material prices and rising p...

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

  • 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 Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing industry in Germany is €17.3bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 133 businesses in the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 3.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing market in Germany are UPM-Kymmene Oyj, Papierfabrik Palm GmbH & Co. KG and Sappi Ltd.

What does the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing in Germany include?

Paper for packaging purposes and Graphic papers are part of the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is UPM-Kymmene Oyj.

How competitive is the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing industry in Germany.

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Competitors

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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 Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

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.