1. Mexico’s Pulp and Paper Market Potential
Finpro Mexico
June 2009

2. Mexico at a glance as a market area and production location
Strategic location
Network of free trade
agreements with > 43 countries
11th largest economy in the world
Investment grade and
IP protection agreements
Competitive and young labor force
107 million consumer market
Efficient hub from a transportation and logistical perspective
2nd commercial partner of the USA
Stable economic and political environment
Dollar dependent currency
/ © Finpro ry

3. Background
Mexico is ranked in 11th place worldwide for areas with productive forest lands.
However Mexico currently imports almost 7 billion dollars in forest product
The adverse trade balance in forest products accounts for almost 80% of the deficit observed nationally. Strengthening the forest sector is one of Mexico's governments priorities.
Forest industry has been stagnant due to lack of raw materials, but is waking up as a result of important governmental support programs:
By the year 2025 the Mexican government will invest 500 million USD to develop the commercial plantations through Prodeplan program which is designed to support the development of 875,000 ha by providing subsidies to cover as much as 65% of start up costs. Currently there are 140,000 ha planted, 95% eucalyptus (in 1997 there was only 20,000 ha of plantations.
The government also has support programs for making more efficient the production based on the 54 million ha of natural forests
/ © Finpro ry

4. Pulp and Paper Industry
Paper and Board production is around 4.8 million metric tons per year (Spain around 6.9 million metric tons)
The most important grades are liner and corrugating boards (1.8 Mt/yr) and tissue papers (0.8 Mt/yr)
Mexico is the 2nd most important tissue paper producer in Latin America, not too far from Brazil, number one producer in this sector.
Mexico produces 25% of paper and board in Latin America, this being 1.2% globally.
There are 56 pulp and paper plants in Mexico creating 64,000 direct and 235,000 indirect jobs.
Kimberly Clark, Copamex (partly owned and managed by Swedish SCA Svenska Cellulosa AB) and Corporación Durango, which is the largest one and owns plants also in the USA, are the most important producers.
Major domestic paper manufacturers in Mexico 2004 (in thousand tons)
/ © Finpro ry

5. Pulp and Paper Industry
Mexico uses over 4.1 million tons per year of recycled fiber. With the plantation industry the share of eucalyptus and other species will increase.
The growth rate in pulp and paper industry is expected to be high due to high demand, the demand in 2008 is expected to be of 7,590,000 metric tons and the installed capacity for production is expected to be 5,505,000 tons.
In 2007 Kimberly-Clark declared that it will invest USD 350 Million in in expansions of tissues, disposable diapers and wet wipes. The company expects sales this year to rise between 8% and 9%.
/ © Finpro ry

6. Pulp and Paper Industry - Current Stage and Future Outlook
Currently the pulp and paper plants are small in size and have old machinery.
Mexican government is supporting the modernization of the sector as it is fundamental for the Mexican economy and trade balance.
Recently a group of Finnish consultants won the public bid for making an industry study and a strategic plan for increasing the competitiveness and sustained development of pulp and paper industries. This study is partly financed by the Secretary of Economy.
An other Finnish consulting group prepared in in depth feasibility study of the Mexican Gulf Region. This region is suitable to integrate and develop a highly competitive forest production chain for the production of fiber, timber, cellulose and paper as the potential for forest plantations in this region is of 4.5 million ha.
/ © Finpro ry

7. Pulp and Paper Industry – Market opportunities for Finnish companies
Virgin pulp production is low, but paper consumption is high
Paper mills can be convinced with technologies that provide savings related to raw material consumption, process water and energy costs
The industry is actively looking for modern high technology solutions that will increase the efficiency and lower production costs:
Especially for tissue and liner and corrugating boards
Secondary fiber products (Mexico global nr. 3 in secondary fiber use)
Transportation equipment
Chemicals for manufacturing processes and recycled fibers
The current key-suppliers come from the United States of America
Mexico is a leading manufacturing location for products headed for USA
/ © Finpro ry

8. Pulp and Paper Industry – Statistic view according to FAO SOFO 2009 study
Total annual paper and paperboard consumption is 7.5 Mt
Total annual paper and paperboard imports are 3.0 Mt
Total annual pulp consumption, excluding recycled fibers, is 1.5 Mt
The Mexican Pulp and Paper Industry operates in a field heavily affected by large-scale paper imports, a lack of virgin fiber raw material and a high need for utilizing secondary fibers
The industry directly employs 64 thousand workers in 56 production plants in 19 Mexican states, generating net sales of 10.3 billion USD
/ © Finpro ry

9. Finpro Mexico at Your Service
Finpro Mexico also covers Colombia, Central America Venezuela and Caribbean Islands
Finpro Mexico is ready to partner up with you to
make your landing soft and to discover all the
business opportunities in the market:
Market access consulting, market studies and local partnering
In depth site selection for production
Subcontracting and local supplier search (local sourcing)
Establishment services for sales and service offices/subsidiaries
Regional strategy development for Latin America
Analysis of import / export programs
Assistance in negotiations
Reputation analysis of potential partners
Tailor made programs / assignments
Finpro México
Oficina Comercial de Finlandia
Monte Pelvoux 111, 4 Piso
Col. Lomas de Chapultepec
11000 México D.F. Mexico
Phone
Fax
Nina Jaakkola
Head of Trade Center
Mobile:
/ © Finpro ry