Pulp and paper industry in Canada

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]

A kraft paper mill in The Pas, Manitoba

A Cascades cardboard packaging plant in Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, Quebec

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

See also: List of paper mills § Canada

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

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.

See also

• Bleaching of wood pulp
• Canadian Pulp and Paper Association
• Charles Fenerty
• Forestry in Canada
• Paper and pulp industry in Dryden, Ontario