Quick Statistics

The subsector's revenue for the year 2008 was approximately $173.5 billion USD, with an estimated gross profit of 31.25%. Import was valued at $24.0 billion USD from 203 countries. The subsector also exported $22.3 billion USD worth of merchandise to 128 countries. Adding import value to and subtracting export value from the subsector's shipment value, the total domestic demand for the subsector in 2008 was $175.2 billion USD.

Reference

Industries in the Paper Manufacturing subsector make pulp, paper, or converted paper products. The manufacturing of these products is grouped together because they constitute a series of vertically connected processes. More than one is often carried out in a single establishment. There are essentially three activities. The manufacturing of pulp involves separating the cellulose fibers from other impurities in wood or used paper. The manufacturing of paper involves matting these fibers into a sheet. Converted paper products are made from paper and other materials by various cutting and shaping techniques and includes coating and laminating activities.

The Paper Manufacturing subsector is subdivided into two industry groups, the first for the manufacturing of pulp and paper and the second for the manufacturing of converted paper products. Paper making is treated as the core activity of the subsector. Therefore, any establishment that makes paper (including paperboard), either alone or in combination with pulp manufacturing or paper converting, is classified as a paper or paperboard mill. Establishments that make pulp without making paper are classified as pulp mills. Pulp mills, paper mills and paperboard mills comprise the first industry group.

Establishments that make products from purchased paper and other materials make up the second industry group, Converted Paper Product Manufacturing. This general activity is then subdivided based, for the most part, on process distinctions. Paperboard container manufacturing uses corrugating, cutting, and shaping machinery to form paperboard into containers. Paper bag and coated and treated paper manufacturing establishments cut and coat paper and foil. Stationery product manufacturing establishments make a variety of paper products used for writing, filing, and similar applications. Other converted paper product manufacturing includes, in particular, the conversion of sanitary paper stock into such things as tissue paper and disposable diapers.

An important process used in the Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing industry is lamination, often combined with coating. Lamination and coating makes a composite material with improved properties of strength, impermeability, and so on. The laminated materials may be paper, metal foil, or plastics film. While paper is often one of the components, it is not always. Lamination of plastics film to plastics film is classified in the NAICS Subsector 326, Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing, because establishments that do this often first make the film. The same situation holds with respect to bags. The manufacturing of bags from plastics only, whether or not laminated, is classified in Subsector 326, Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing, but all other bag manufacturing is classified in this subsector.

Excluded from this subsector are photosensitive papers. These papers are chemically treated and are classified in Industry 32599, All Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing.

6-digit Industries Within This Subsector

322110 Pulp mills
322121 Paper (except newsprint) mills
322122 Newsprint mills
322130 Paperboard mills
322211 Corrugated & solid fiber box mfg
322212 Folding paperboard box mfg
322213 Setup paperboard box mfg
322214 Fiber can, tube, drum, & similar products mfg
322215 Nonfolding sanitary food container mfg
322221 Coated & laminated packaging paper & plastics film mfg
322222 Coated & laminated paper mfg
322223 Plastics, foil, & coated paper bag mfg
322224 Uncoated paper & multiwall bag mfg
322225 Laminated aluminum foil mfg for flexible packaging uses
322226 Surface-coated paperboard mfg
322231 Die-cut paper & paperboard office supplies mfg
322232 Envelope mfg
322233 Stationery, tablet, & related product mfg
322291 Sanitary paper product mfg
322299 All other converted paper product mfg

5-digit Industries Within This Subsector

32212X Paper mills
32221X Paperboard container mfg
32222X Paper bag and coated and treated paper mfg
32223X Stationery product mfg
32229X Other converted paper product mfg

4-digit Industries Within This Subsector

3221XX Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills industry group
3222XX Converted paper product mfg

Subsector Report

322XXX Paper Manufacturing Subsector