Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing in France - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2025-2029)

Paper & Paperboard Manufacturing in France industry analysis

The Paper and Paperboard Manufacturing industry has struggled with the ever-increasing threat of digitalisation across France dampening paper usage. Wood pulp prices have significantly fluctuated, reflecting broader supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainties. These price changes have directly impacted the industry, with manufacturers passing on increased costs to consumers at times, particularly during the price surges over the two years through 2022, which caused revenue to jump. Nonetheless, the industry has faced strong headwinds from rising digitalisation, which has transformed how businesses operate and how consumers access media, dampening sales and the need for traditional paper products like newsprint and office supplies. These factors have shaped the industry's recent performance and influenced strategic shifts towards sustainable and specialised paper offerings. Revenue is expected to dwindle at a compound annual rate of 2.4% over the five years through 2025 to €5.4 billion.

Trends and Insights

• COVID-19 causes revenue to tank. The pandemic damaged Europe’s business sentiment, slashed spending and disrupted supply chains, slashing pulp, paper and paperboard sales.
• Uncoated paper and paperboard sales are on the rise. As employees returned to offices post-pandemic, demand for business printing, stationery and book publishing surged, offering revenue a temporary boost.
• Smaller manufacturers specialise in niche paper products. They often produce higher-value specialist writing paper, crepes paper or photo-sensitive paper products. Many small-scale plants don’t produce their pulp, so a lot is imported, restricting new entrants.