The 2021 China Paper Industry Report released by the China Paper Association (CPA) showed the number of paper and paperboard manufacturers in China remained roughly the same as the previous year at 2,426. Although 200 less than that of 2019, these manufacturers contributed 121 million metric tons in paper and board production, up 7.5% from 2020. At the same time, their sales revenue grew 19% to RMB855.1 billion and net earnings gained 18.12% to RMB54.1 billion year-on-year, regardless of a 33.33% rise in finished product inventories. In addition, industry assets increased 5.37% to nearly RMB1.08 trillion, along with a 5.59% increase in liability, which made the liability/asset ratio at 58.88%. Among the 2,426 entities, there were 452 negative performers, reducing by 3 percentage points from the previous year to 18.63%.

Most market analysts agree that it is really not easy for the industry to face multiple challenges in 2021, such as the epidemic, and still win a simultaneous increase in sales and profits, and a reduction in the number of loss-making enterprises! These add strength to the industry's ability to meet more and even greater challenges in 2022.