Kraft Liner Market (2026 - 2033) Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (GSM<80, GSM 80 To 160, GSM>160), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, Middle East & Africa), And Segment Forecasts

Kraft Liner Market Summary

The global kraft liner market size was estimated at USD 51.9 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 85.7 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2026 to 2033. The market is expected to grow significantly due to the growth in the packaging industry on account of the growing e-commerce sector across the globe. 

Kraft liner is a paperboard manufactured from chemical pulp produced in the kraft process, wherein the wood is converted into wood pulp, which consists of cellulose fibers. It has characteristics like great strength and good printability. Owing to these properties, along with being environment-friendly, it is used in various industries for packaging like food & beverages, automotive parts, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. Rising environmental concerns regarding the use of plastic in packaging and the globally growing packaging industry, backed by the rise of the e-commerce sector across the globe, are the major factors driving the market growth over the forecasted period. Moreover, rising industrial operations are expected to drive industrial logistics growth, thereby driving the demand for kraft liner.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the market and the end-use industries in 2020. Due to this, the end-users did not prefer to go for any new product amid uncertainties. However, the post-pandemic era has brought in bright prospects due to a boost in the economies, which are expected to accelerate the market growth.

Old Corrugated Containers (OCC) are the basic raw materials used in kraft liners, and they account for 80% of the total makeup of the production of kraft liners. The recovery of this material is a real challenge because of the low-grade OCC and high transportation costs associated with it. This directly affects the supply of the kraft liner, which hampers the market growth.

Various R&D activities are executed by manufacturers to reduce the cost of kraft liner and are expected to help strengthen the market share in the packaging industry. In addition, to eliminate waste and promote kraft liners, governments worldwide are starting to focus on using recyclable and reusable packaging materials.

Market Concentration & Characteristics

The kraft liner industry is moderately consolidated, with a mix of large integrated paper manufacturers and regional producers competing on product quality, pricing, and sustainability. Leading companies focus on expanding production capacity and enhancing recycled and virgin fiber offerings to strengthen their market position. Strategic investments, capacity expansions, and partnerships are common to improve supply chain efficiency and meet growing packaging demand. While global players dominate high-quality and export-oriented segments, regional manufacturers cater to cost-sensitive and local packaging needs. Environmental compliance, recyclability, and strength performance are key competitive factors, with product innovation and lightweighting trends further differentiating market participants.

Substitutes for kraft liner include testliner (recycled linerboard), corrugated medium, and alternative packaging materials such as plastic films, molded pulp, and reusable containers. However, these alternatives may offer lower strength, limited durability, or reduced sustainability benefits compared to kraft liner, especially in heavy-duty packaging applications. While plastic and flexible packaging solutions are gaining traction in certain segments, environmental concerns and recyclability challenges limit their widespread substitution. The threat of substitutes remains moderate, as cost-sensitive applications may shift toward recycled materials. However, kraft liner continues to be preferred for its high strength, durability, and performance in corrugated packaging. Continuous focus on lightweighting and sustainable production further strengthens its competitive position.

Product Insights

The GSM 80 to 160 product segment led the market and accounted for 59.5% of the global revenue share in 2025. It is expected to be the fastest-growing product segment over the forecast period, growing at a CAGR of over 6.6% from 2026 to 2033. The growing scope of the product in the consumer goods packaging sector is expected to drive the segment growth. Kraft liners with GSM between 80 and 160 are widely utilized by the e-commerce sector. The e-commerce sector is one of the largest end-users of packaging materials and is expected to witness growth over the projected period, in turn, propelling the demand for kraft liners. The growing e-commerce sector across the globe is expected to boost the demand for kraft liners of GSM grade 80 and above.

GSM > 160 kraft liners are extensively used in packaging applications for heavy-duty equipment. This product is thick and multilayered, which provides extra cushioning to the objects during the transportation process. The major applications for this grade of the product include heavy electrical appliances, industrial machinery, construction materials, automotive parts, and glass objects. Different designs of flutes and multilayered kraft papers are used to make the packaging more durable and provide an enhanced protective layer to the objects being transported. The GSM grade of the kraft liners to be used is determined by the robust and fragile properties of the object. The range can go up to 400 GSM for special applications, wherein extra protective layers are required.

Regional Insights

The Asia Pacific regional market held the largest revenue share of over 63.7% in 2025 on account of the presence of a large number of producers and the end-use packaging industry. This growth can also be attributed to the growing industrialization and the scale at which production of goods is happening in almost every sector in developing economies like China, Vietnam, India, etc. The growing e-commerce and manufacturing sector in this region is expected to aid market growth.

Europe Kraft Liner Market Trends

The kraft liner market in Europe is expected to increase due to the strong shift toward sustainable and recyclable packaging solutions, driven by stringent environmental regulations and circular economy initiatives. The growing e-commerce sector and emphasis on reducing plastic usage are further supporting the adoption of kraft liner in corrugated packaging applications.

North America Kraft Liner Market Trends

The kraft liner market in North America is rising due to the expansion of e-commerce and retail logistics, which require durable and high-strength packaging materials. Additionally, increasing focus on sustainable packaging and advancements in lightweight, high-performance linerboard are driving its adoption across various end-use industries.

Key Kraft Liner Company Insights

Some of the key players operating in the market include International Paper, Mondi Group, and Smurfit Kappa.

• International Paper is a global manufacturer of fiber-based packaging and pulp products. The company primarily produces containerboard and corrugated packaging used in industries such as e-commerce, food and beverages, and industrial goods. It operates an extensive network of mills and converting facilities, mainly in North America and Latin America. International Paper is focused on sustainable operations, emphasizing renewable materials, recycling, and responsible forestry practices.

• Mondi Group is a global packaging and paper manufacturer with a fully integrated value chain spanning forestry, pulp, paper, and converting operations. The company operates through corrugated and flexible packaging segments, producing containerboard, kraft paper, paper bags, and specialty packaging solutions. It has a strong presence across Europe, North America, and Africa, with an extensive network of production sites. Mondi focuses on sustainable, recyclable packaging solutions, supported by its circular-driven strategy and innovation capabilities.

Astron Paper & Board Mill and Eagle Paper International, Inc. are a few of the emerging market participants.

• Astron Paper & Board Mill Limited is an India-based manufacturer of recycled corrugated paper, specializing in kraft liner, test liner, and fluting medium. Established in 2010, the company operates multiple paper mills in Gujarat with a focus on producing packaging-grade paper from wastepaper. It serves corrugated box and industrial packaging applications with a wide GSM range and cost-efficient production. Astron is recognized as a growing domestic player with expanding capacity and export presence.

• Eagle Paper International, Inc. is a global supplier of paper and packaging materials with a product portfolio focused on corrugating papers, kraft paper, packaging boards, and tissue & towel raw materials. The company supplies linerboard and fluting (medium) for corrugated packaging, along with duplex/triplex boards and SBS used in packaging applications. It also deals in stock lots and selected specialty and printing papers. Eagle Paper operates through a global sourcing network, supplying the packaging, tissue, and paper industries.

Recent Developments

• In November 2025, Mondi Group inaugurated a new €400 million kraft paper machine at its Štětí mill in the Czech Republic, adding ~210,000 tonnes/year capacity of high-performance kraft paper to meet rising demand for sustainable, paper-based packaging solutions.

Kraft Liner Market Report Scope

Global Kraft Liner Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts the volume and revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2021 to 2033. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global kraft liner market report based on product and region:

• Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Billion, 2021 - 2033)

  • GSM < 80

  • GSM 80 to 160

  • GSM > 160

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Billion, 2021 - 2033)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • UK

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • Indonesia

    • South Korea

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa