Pulp and paper industry in Canada
 | Parts of this article (those related to Leading companies) need to be updated. The reason given is: a decade out of date. (November 2025) |
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The pulp and paper industry in Canada is a major component of the national forest sector and has long been one of the country's largest manufacturing industries, closely linked to commercial logging and wood processing.[1] In 2022, Canada's forest sector contributed about C$33.4 billion to Canada's real gross domestic product, or roughly 1.2% of national GDP, and directly supported about 200,000 jobs.[2] Forest products, including wood pulp, paper and paperboard, remain a significant export category for Canada, representing billions of dollars in annual shipments and forming an important share of merchandise exports. Canada is consistently ranked among the world's top producers and exporters of wood pulp and paper.[3]
Pulp and paper production is especially concentrated in Ontario and Quebec, where the industry accounts for several billion dollars in shipments, thousands of direct jobs, and in some regions remains the primary manufacturing base for local economies.[4] Significant pulp and paper operations also exist in other provinces, including British Columbia, New Brunswick, Manitoba and Alberta, where mills supply domestic and export markets in North America and overseas.[5]
Leading companies
[edit]The leading forest and paper products companies in Canada in net sales in 2012 were:[6]
| Rank | Company | 2012 Net Sales (US$M) |
2012 Net Income (Loss) (US$M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Domtar Inc. | 5,482 | 172 |
| 2 | Resolute Forest Products | 4,503 | (2) |
| 3 | Cascades Inc. | 3,646 | (11) |
| 4 | West Fraser Timber | 3,001 | 87 |
| 5 | Canfor | 2,715 | 32 |
| 6 | Tembec | 1,667 | (82) |
| 7 | Norbord | 1,149 | 72 |
| 8 | Mercer International | 1,073 | (16) |
| 9 | Catalyst | 1,059 | 583 |
| 10 | Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. | 926 | 29 |
Environmental expenses
[edit]In 2000, Canadian pulp, paper and paperboard companies had operating expenses of C$425.4 million on environmental protection with the majority ($263.3 million) used for pollution abatement. Capital expenditures totalled $234.8 million, with over half ($140.4 million) being spent on pollution prevention processes. [1]
See also
[edit]
- Bleaching of wood pulp
- Canadian Pulp and Paper Association
- Charles Fenerty
- Forestry in Canada
- Paper and pulp industry in Dryden, Ontario
References
[edit]- ^ "Overview of Canada's forest industry". Natural Resources Canada. 2025-03-12.
- ^ "New report highlights forest sector's vital role in strengthening Canada's economy from coast to coast". Forest Products Association of Canada. 2025-04-28.
- ^ "Overview of Canada's forest industry". Natural Resources Canada. 2025-03-12.
- ^ "Forestry – Economy of Quebec". Government of Quebec. 2021.
- ^ "New report highlights forest sector's vital role in strengthening Canada's economy from coast to coast". Forest Products Association of Canada. 2025-04-28.
- ^ Global Forest, Paper & Packaging Industry Survey (PDF) (Report). PricewaterhouseCoopers. 2013. pp. 10–11.
External links
[edit]- TAPPI Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry
- Forest Products Association of Canada
- An Update on the Paper and Allied Products Industry (Statistics Canada, 1999)
- Canadian Industry Statistics (Strategis)
- Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada (PAPTAC)
