1、 Strong market growth momentum
Continuous expansion of demand in multiple fields
E-commerce and Logistics: The demand for express waybills and product labels is growing with the increasing penetration rate of e-commerce, and the instant delivery industry is driving the demand for high-frequency printing.
Medical health: The demand for medical labels and testing report paper is accelerating with the aging population and the release of medical informationization.
Retail and catering: The popularization of POS terminals and self checkout systems promotes the application of thermal paper in consumer scenarios.
Technological upgrading and environmental transformation
High performance products: Environmentally friendly thermal paper with long-lasting storage (over 30 years), oil and alcohol resistance, and no bisphenol A has become mainstream, meeting high demand scenarios such as food traceability and industrial labeling.
Green production process: Enterprises respond to the "carbon neutrality" policy, shift to low-carbon production technologies, reduce pollution emissions, and accelerate the research and development of biodegradable materials.
Policy support and industry standards
The Chinese government encourages circular economy and green packaging, accelerates the upgrading of traditional thermal paper to environmentally friendly alternatives, and policy dividends promote technological innovation in the industry.
2、 Regional market differentiation and concentration
Asia Pacific dominates the global market
As the world's largest consumer market, China's demand growth rate will continue to exceed that of mature markets in Europe and America after 2025, accounting for over 30% of the global market share.
Emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and India have become new growth points due to manufacturing relocation and consumption upgrading.
Optimization of domestic production capacity and competitive landscape
Leading enterprises such as Xianhe Group, Guanhao High tech, and Jianghe Paper have gradually squeezed out the high-end market share of international giants such as Wangzi Paper and Koehler through capacity expansion and technological breakthroughs.
Industry concentration has increased, environmental protection measures have become stricter, and technological barriers have accelerated the clearance of small and medium-sized enterprises. The bargaining power of top enterprises has also strengthened.
3、 Technological Trends and Emerging Applications
Innovation direction
Special thermal paper: Develop products with high sensitivity and extreme environmental resistance for scenarios such as Internet of Things (IoT) labels, intelligent packaging, and industrial automation.
Digital integration: The combination of thermal paper and electronic technology, such as temperature sensitive labels and smart tags that can be read and written, expands the application of industrial Internet of Things.
Coexistence of substitution and complementarity
The impact of electronic bills: Online transactions reduce the use of offline POS machines, but thermal paper still has irreplaceability in essential scenarios such as logistics and healthcare.
Mixed mode development: Some enterprises are exploring a dual track system of "paper+electronic", such as providing electronic receipts while retaining thermal paper as a supplement.
4、 Challenges and Risks
Fluctuations in raw material prices
Fluctuations in international commodity prices such as wood pulp and waste paper may compress profit margins, and companies need to strengthen supply chain management and cost control.
Environmental Protection and Compliance Pressure
The restrictions on bisphenol A and the tightening of carbon emission policies are forcing companies to accelerate technological upgrades, which may increase the cost of transformation in the short term.
Intensifying competition in emerging markets
The rise of local enterprises in Southeast Asia and India may divert some mid to low end orders, and it is necessary to strengthen differentiated competitiveness.
5、 Future prospects
Market size: The global thermal paper market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5% -7% from 2025 to 2031, with a size of nearly 9.6 billion US dollars by 2031.
Growth engine: China, Southeast Asia and other Asia Pacific regions contribute the main increment, accounting for over 40% of the global share.
Corporate strategy: Leading companies need to focus on environmental innovation, research and development of high value-added products, and optimize the industrial chain through mergers and acquisitions to enhance global competitiveness.
Guangzhou Jiuheng Barcode Co., Ltd
