North America Paper Dry Strength Agent Market Analysis and Forecast by Size, Share, Growth, Trends 2031

The North America paper dry strength agent market size is expected to reach US$ 196.90 million by 2031 from US$ 150.19 million in 2024. The market is estimated to record a CAGR of 4.1% from 2025 to 2031.

Executive Summary and North America Paper Dry Strength Agent Market Analysis:

The North America paper dry strength agent market is segmented into the US, Canada, and Mexico. According to the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement Inc (NCASI) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), there are more than 450 paper and pulp mills in North America, which produced 76.5 million metric tons of paper in 2022. The presence of a well-established paper and pulp industry contributes to the rising demand for dry strength agents in the region.

According to the Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce, retail e-commerce sales for the fourth quarter of 2024 were estimated to be US$ 308.9 billion, marking a rise of 2.7% from the third quarter of 2024. With the increasing e-commerce sector and logistics and shipping operations, the demand for strong packaging materials that can withstand wear and tear during handling and shipping is increasing. This factor is propelling the adoption of dry strength additives, especially polyacrylamide resins, across the packaging sector in North America, driving the market growth.

North America Paper Dry Strength Agent Market: Strategic Insights

North America Paper Dry Strength Agent Market Segmentation Analysis:

Key segments that contributed to the derivation of the North America paper dry strength agent market analysis are type and application.

• Based on type, the North America paper dry strength agent market is segmented into polyvinyl amine, polyacrylamide, starch, and others. The starch segment held the largest share of the market in 2024. The polyacrylamide segment is further sub-segmented into amphoteric polyacrylamide, cationic glyoxalated polyacrylamide, cationic solution polyacrylamide, and others.

• By application, the North America paper dry strength agent market is segmented into printing and writing paper, tissue paper, packaging paper, specialty paper, and others. The packaging paper segment held the largest share of the market in 2024.

North America Paper Dry Strength Agent Market Players Density: Understanding Its Impact on Business Dynamics

The North America Paper Dry Strength Agent Market is growing rapidly, driven by increasing end-user demand due to factors such as evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and greater awareness of the product's benefits. As demand rises, businesses are expanding their offerings, innovating to meet consumer needs, and capitalizing on emerging trends, which further fuels market growth.

North America Paper Dry Strength Agent Market Outlook

The paper and pulp industries are focusing on reducing environmental impact and carbon footprint due to rising concerns regarding sustainability. They are replacing traditional, petroleum-based additives with eco-friendly, plant-based polymers such as cellulose derivatives, plant gums including guar gum and locust bean gum, carrageenan, and chitosan that provide superior performance to the conventional dry strength agents, along with minimizing carbon footprints. For instance, Kemia Oyj, a prominent manufacturer of paper dry strength agents, offers Kemira's ECA (Engineered Cellulose Additive), which is chemically derived from wood pulp and is an effective, bio-based dry strength additive. It is well-suited for paper mills where traditional synthetic polymer-based dry strength resins fail to perform effectively. ECA remains unaffected by high conductivity, calcium levels, or other contaminants in the papermaking system. It improves paper strength and machine runnability, even under challenging conditions.

Companies are focusing on providing innovative products with advanced chemical properties that allow paper manufacturers to generate dry strength agents on-site, reducing shipping & logistics, handling costs, and carbon emissions. For instance, Solenis offers Hercobond Plus, an on-site generated dry strength additive with a longer shelf life, less waste, a 20% performance boost, a 60% reduction in freight costs, and delivery frequency than traditional additives. It also helps lower the carbon footprint of the packaging made due to on-site generation. Such products are witnessing strong demand in the paper industry. Thus, increasing sustainability concerns and adopting bio-based alternatives to traditional fossil-based dry strength agents are expected to emerge as key trends in the market over the forecast period.

North America Paper Dry Strength Agent Market Country Insights

Based on country, the North America paper dry strength agent market comprises the US, Canada, and Mexico. The US held the largest share in 2024.

The US has a robust pulp and paper industry involved in the manufacturing of various papers, including writing paper, packaging paper, and specialty paper. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the paper manufacturing industry employed 354.4 thousand people in 2024. According to the American Forest and Paper Association, the industry produced 79.7 million metric tons of paper in 2023. Thus, the presence of a well-established paper manufacturing sector in the US drives the demand for paper dry strength agents. The growing e-commerce sector and increased demand for packaging materials have created a need for stronger paper that can withstand wear and tear during transportation. Dry strength agents improve the structural integrity of paper packaging, driving market expansion.

North America Paper Dry Strength Agent Market Company Profiles

Some of the key players operating in the market include Solenis LLC, Ecolab Inc, Buckman Laboratories International Inc, Arakawa Chemical Industries Ltd, Kemira Oyj, Applied Chemicals International Group AG, SEIKO PMC CORP, BIM Kemi AB, Shandong Tiancheng Chemical Co Ltd, Axchem Korea Co Ltd, Qingzhou Jinhao New Material Co Ltd, Wuxi Lansen Chemicals Co Ltd, Mare SpA, Benzson GROUP, and Lanyao Water Treatment Co Ltd., among others. These players are adopting various strategies such as expansion, product innovation, and mergers and acquisitions to provide innovative products to their consumers and increase their market share.

North America Paper Dry Strength Agent Market Research Methodology:

The following methodology has been followed for the collection and analysis of data presented in this report:

Secondary Research

The research process begins with comprehensive secondary research, utilizing both internal and external sources to gather qualitative and quantitative data for each market. Commonly referenced secondary research sources include, but are not limited to:

• Company websites, annual reports, financial statements, broker analyses, and investor presentations.

• Industry trade journals and other relevant publications.

• Government documents, statistical databases, and market reports.

• News articles, press releases, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market.

Note:

All financial data included in the Company Profiles section has been standardized to USD. For companies reporting in other currencies, figures have been converted to USD using the relevant exchange rates for the corresponding year.

Primary Research

The Insight Partners conducts a significant number of primary interviews each year with industry stakeholders and experts to validate its data analysis and gain valuable insights. These research interviews are designed to:

• Validate and refine findings from secondary research.

• Enhance the expertise and market understanding of the analysis team.

• Gain insights into market size, trends, growth patterns, competitive dynamics, and future prospects.

Primary research is conducted via email interactions and telephone interviews, encompassing various markets, categories, segments, and sub-segments across different regions. Participants typically include:

• Industry stakeholders: Vice Presidents, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers

• External experts: Valuation specialists, research analysts, and key opinion leaders with industry-specific expertise