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. 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. 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.
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. 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.

Leading companies

The leading forest and paper products companies in Canada in net sales in 2012 were:
RankCompany2012 Net Sales
2012 Net Income
1Domtar Inc.5,482172
2Resolute Forest Products4,503
3Cascades Inc.3,646
4West Fraser Timber3,00187
5Canfor2,71532
6Tembec1,667
7Norbord1,14972
8Mercer International1,073
9Catalyst1,059583
10Millar Western Forest Products Ltd.92629

Environmental expenses

In 2000, Canadian pulp, paper and paperboard companies had operating expenses of C$425.4 million on environmental protection with the majority used for pollution abatement. Capital expenditures totalled $234.8 million, with over half being spent on pollution prevention processes.