According to a new report from Smithers, the fluff pulp industry is set for a boom year in 2022, with record prices and recovering demand pushing global consumption to 6.90 million air dried metric tonnes (ADMTs). This will yield a to market value of $8.31 billion, up from $6.88 billion in 2021, according to exclusive forecasting in the new Smithers market study, The Future of Fluff Pulp to 2027.
In 2017, global fluff pulp consumption was 5.8 million air-dried tonnes. This increased to 7.0 million air-dried tonnes in 2022. The annual growth rate from 2017 to 2022 was 3.8%. By 2027, global fluff pulp consumption is projected to reach 8.5 million air dried tonnes. The annual growth rate projection for 2022-27 is 4.1%.
Key findings in the report include:
-The lack of large, new fluff pulp supply has led to tightening supply/demand ratios and increasing prices. This tightening in the supply/demand ratio is expected to continue through 2027, though prices are expected to moderate as transport costs return to a ‘new normal’
-The global drive to reduce or eliminate plastics has only increased demand for fluff pulp at the expense of plastic fibres and products.