Pulp for paper — Production in China, mainland

China, mainland: Pulp for paper — Production was 31.37 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
31.37 million t
Change on year
up 8.7%
World rank
3rd
of 120 countries
All-time high
31.37 million t
in 2024
All-time low
2.20 million t
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024

Pulp for paper — Production in China, mainland, 1961–2024

010.0M20.0M30.0M196119922024

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in t.

Analysis

In 2024, pulp for paper — production in China, mainland stood at 31.37 million t. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.7% on the previous year and up 82.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, pulp for paper — production in China, mainland peaked at 31.37 million t in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.20 million t, in 1961.

That places China, mainland 3rd out of 120 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Pulp for paper — Production in China, mainland, year by year

Annual values for Pulp for paper — Production in China, mainland, 1961 to 2024.
Year t Change
1961 2.20 million t —
1962 2.30 million t +4.5%
1963 2.40 million t +4.3%
1964 2.45 million t +2.1%
1965 2.55 million t +4.1%
1966 2.65 million t +3.9%
1967 2.73 million t +2.8%
1968 2.83 million t +3.7%
1969 2.95 million t +4.4%
1970 3.05 million t +3.4%
1971 2.85 million t -6.6%
1972 2.50 million t -12.3%
1973 2.50 million t +0.0%
1974 2.50 million t +0.0%
1975 2.80 million t +12.0%
1976 2.80 million t +0.0%
1977 3.00 million t +7.1%
1978 3.50 million t +16.7%
1979 3.90 million t +11.4%
1980 4.13 million t +5.8%
1981 4.13 million t +0.0%
1982 4.13 million t +0.0%
1983 4.59 million t +11.1%
1984 5.13 million t +12.0%
1985 8.09 million t +57.5%
1986 8.93 million t +10.4%
1987 11.74 million t +31.5%
1988 12.94 million t +10.2%
1989 12.43 million t -3.9%
1990 12.52 million t +0.7%
1991 13.28 million t +6.1%
1992 14.52 million t +9.3%
1993 16.63 million t +14.6%
1994 19.14 million t +15.1%
1995 23.76 million t +24.1%
1996 13.49 million t -43.2%
1997 17.37 million t +28.8%
1998 17.40 million t +0.2%
1999 16.41 million t -5.7%
2000 14.47 million t -11.8%
2001 13.49 million t -6.7%
2002 14.79 million t +9.6%
2003 15.39 million t +4.1%
2004 15.49 million t +0.6%
2005 16.31 million t +5.2%
2006 18.16 million t +11.4%
2007 19.07 million t +5.0%
2008 19.69 million t +3.2%
2009 17.26 million t -12.3%
2010 20.05 million t +16.2%
2011 20.73 million t +3.4%
2012 18.84 million t -9.1%
2013 17.10 million t -9.2%
2014 17.17 million t +0.4%
2015 16.46 million t -4.1%
2016 15.96 million t -3.0%
2017 16.47 million t +3.2%
2018 17.58 million t +6.7%
2019 18.56 million t +5.6%
2020 20.19 million t +8.8%
2021 23.62 million t +17.0%
2022 26.73 million t +13.1%
2023 28.86 million t +8.0%
2024 31.37 million t +8.7%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Pulp for paper — Production in China, mainland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1985 +57.5% 5.13 million t 8.09 million t
1996 -43.2% 23.76 million t 13.49 million t

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 2.56 million t 2.20 million t 2.95 million t 9
1970s 2.94 million t 2.50 million t 3.90 million t 10
1980s 7.62 million t 4.13 million t 12.94 million t 10
1990s 16.45 million t 12.52 million t 23.76 million t 10
2000s 16.41 million t 13.49 million t 19.69 million t 10
2010s 17.89 million t 15.96 million t 20.73 million t 10
2020s 26.16 million t 20.19 million t 31.37 million t 5

Countries ranked near China, mainland

  1. 1 United States 35.90 million t compare
  2. 2 China 31.74 million t compare
  3. 4 Brazil 25.56 million t compare
  4. 5 Canada 12.90 million t compare
  5. 6 Sweden 10.91 million t compare

See the full ranking of 150 places →

More environment data for China, mainland

All data for China, mainland →

Frequently asked questions

What is pulp for paper — production in China, mainland?
Pulp for paper — production in China, mainland was 31.37 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest pulp for paper — production recorded in China, mainland?
The highest recorded value was 31.37 million t in 2024.
What is the lowest pulp for paper — production recorded in China, mainland?
The lowest recorded value was 2.20 million t in 1961.
How does China, mainland rank for pulp for paper — production?
China, mainland ranks 3rd out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
Is pulp for paper — production rising or falling in China, mainland?
Over the last ten years it is up 82.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China, mainland data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Pulp for paper — Production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Pulp for paper — Production in China, mainland. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 27 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/pulp-for-paper-production/china-mainland/

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About this data

Indicator
Pulp for paper — Production
Unit
t
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
150 places, 7,611 data points, 1961–2024
Last refreshed

The database contains data on the production and trade in roundwood and in primary wood and paper products for all countries and territories in the world.The main types of primary forest products included in this database are roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, pulp, and paper and paperboard. These products are detailed further and defined in the Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JFSQ) (https://www.fao.org/statistics/data-collection/forestry/en). The database contains details of the following topics: - roundwood removals (production) by coniferous and non-coniferous wood and assortments, - production and trade in industrial roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, wood charcoal, pulp, paper and paperboard, and other products. More detailed information on wood products, including definitions, can be found at: https://www.fao.org/statistics/data-collection/forestry/en