And according to researcher RISI revealingly while sales were up, paper and board production among the top 100 pulp and paper companies was down by five per cent, from 210 million tonnes to 199.3 million tonnes, which meant that paper companies were already seeing a reduction in demand as the global financial crisis hit in late 2008. It also indicates the big global papermakers were able to increase their prices during the year.

International Paper has maintained its position as the world’s biggest papermaker, with personal hygiene products company Procter & Gamble swopping spots with Sora Enso to rise from third to second.

Asian companies continue to make an impression on the global industry, now with 23 entries in the Top 100. The Asian list continues to be dominated by Japanese companies which still hold the top six places among Asian papermarkers, although Chinese firms are continuing to show clear growth, with the largest of them, Shandong Chenming, moving up one place to number 42

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