Copper Plate Paper Market will grow at highest pace owing to increasing application in Printing and Packaging Industry

Copper plate paper is a high quality coated paper which features a strong printing surface that allows for crisp images and rich colors to be printed upon it. It is coated on both sides providing an ultra smooth surface ideal for fine art printing, packaging, signage, labels and more. The copper coating applied to this paper gives an unparalleled printing performance allowing for sharp details and precise color matching even for the most intricate designs. The robust construction of copper plate paper also makes it suitable for laser and UV printing applications. Global copper plate paper market is estimated to be valued at US$ 910 Mn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.0% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030.

Key Takeaways

Key players operating in the copper plate paper market are International Paper Company, Domtar Corporation, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd., UPM-Kymmene Corporation, Sappi Limited, Mondi Group, Stora Enso Oyj, Smurfit Kappa Group, Metsä Board Corporation, WestRock Company, Oji Holdings Corporation, Verso Corporation, Burgo Group, Lecta Group, Catalyst Paper Corporation. These key players are focusing on capacity expansion and new product launch to cater to the growing demand for copper plate paper.

The demand for copper plate paper is increasing from the printing and packaging industry owing to its excellent printing properties and ability to provide vibrant prints. It is widely used for catalogs, magazines, brochures, menus, packaging materials and various commercial printing applications. Growth in e-commerce is also fueling the demand for effective packaging solutions made from copper plate papers.

Technological advancements are expanding the application scope of copper plate paper. Developments in coating compositions are resulting in papers with improved surface properties like higher gloss levels, better opacity and enhanced printing capabilities. Sustainable copper plate papers made from recycled fibers are also gaining popularity in line with environmental sustainability goals.

Market Trends

Growing preference for silver copper papers - Silver copper papers provide superior printing results compared to traditional copper plate papers. The metallic silver coating layer allows for highly saturated and vibrant color reproduction. This has led to increasing replacement of standard copper plates with silver copper varieties.

Rise in specialized printing applications - Innovation in coating technologies is supporting the use of copper plate papers in specialized printing domains like holographic effects, thermal printing, security & authentication printing and membranes for membrane switches. This is widening the addressable market scope.

Market Opportunities

Increasing application in food contact packaging - Developments in safe coating compositions and food grade papers is opening up opportunities to use copper papers for food contact applications like confectionary wrappers, frozen food packaging and beverage cartons.

Growth in Asian markets - Countries like India, China, Japan and South Korea are emerging as high growth regions for copper plate papers driven by manufacturing sector expansion, liberal trade policies and rising disposable incomes. Focus on these lucrative Asian markets can drive future gains.

Impact of COVID-19 on Copper Plate Paper Market Growth

The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impact on the copper plate paper market growth globally. During the peak of lockdowns in 2020 and early 2021, industrial and economic activities came to a halt which impacted the demand for copper plate paper from printing and packaging industries. Supply chain disruptions arose as transportation was restricted during lockdowns. Printers and publishers faced difficulties in sourcing printing paper including copper plate paper during this period.

The pre-COVID scenario of the market was promising with steady growth driven by increasing demand from publishing and packaging industries. However, during the pandemic, publishing activities reduced drastically as people avoided non-essential purchases. Demand from retail packaging also declined due to closure of shops and falling consumer spending during the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic.

As restrictions are being lifted globally post vaccination drives, industrial activities are resuming gradually. The copper plate paper market is also recovering from pandemic losses as demand from printing and packaging sectors picks up with restart of economic activities. However, high raw material prices and supply chain issues continue to challenge market growth. Technologies facilitating remote working are supporting publishing industry to some extent. Focus on e-commerce is boosting packaging demand. Market players need to strengthen supply chains and focus on cost reduction to deal with ongoing challenges in the post-COVID scenario.

Differences in COVID-19 Impact across Geographical Regions for Copper Plate Paper Market

In terms of value, Europe currently accounts for the largest share in the global copper plate paper market. Countries like Germany, Italy, France and the UK have significant presence of printing and publishing industries which drive copper plate paper demand. However, during the peak of the pandemic in 2020, the market faced greater impact in Europe due to rigorous lockdowns which disrupted industrial activities.

The Asia Pacific region excluding Japan represents the fastest growing regional market for copper plate paper globally. Countries like China, India and Southeast Asian nations have shown rising demand over the past few years from their developing publishing, retail and e-commerce sectors. Though the COVID-19 outbreak impacted the market initially, revival was relatively faster in the Asia Pacific region as economic activities resumed promptly post lockdowns.