November 14, 2024 – The pulp molding industry, which once rode a wave of growth fueled by global “plastic-ban” policies and soaring export demands, now faces a multitude of challenges, including export obstacles and policy stagnation, casting a shadow over its future prospects.
The industry’s export woes are closely intertwined with the complexifying international trade landscape. As global economic growth slows and trade protectionism rises, pulp-molded products encounter more hurdles in overseas markets. Notably, markets like the United States have tightened import environmental standards and imposed higher tariffs, posing severe challenges for export-dependent pulp molding enterprises. Recently, the U.S. Department of Commerce initiated anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations on thermoformed molded fiber products originating from China and Vietnam, expected to last a year, further exacerbating industry pressures.
Moreover, the pulp molding sector grapples with competitiveness issues. Some companies lag in production technology and product quality, failing to meet the demands of international high-end markets. Product homogenization is rampant, lacking unique competitive advantages. This situation forces businesses to rely on price wars for market share, squeezing profit margins and hindering long-term development and export expansion.
Domestically, the progress of “plastic-ban” policies has not been as smooth as anticipated, according to AsiaMB’s sources. On one hand, policy enforcement suffers from inadequate supervision, with some small enterprises and merchants violating plastic use regulations, and penalties are not deterrent enough. On the other hand, alternative products like pulp molds have higher costs, and without sufficient economic incentives, consumers and businesses often prefer cheaper traditional plastic products. This limits the promotion of pulp-molded products in the domestic market, stifling demand.
In response to these challenges, the pulp molding industry is actively seeking solutions. In terms of technological innovation, companies are optimizing pulp formulas and molding processes to enhance product moisture resistance, strength, and durability, catering to diverse industry needs. Additionally, industry players are strengthening integration and collaboration through mergers, acquisitions, and the establishment of industrial alliances to boost overall scale efficiency and risk resistance.
For market expansion, the pulp molding sector is exploring new growth avenues. Beyond traditional exports and the domestic disposable packaging market, enterprises are venturing into emerging domestic applications such as high-end electronic product packaging and medical device packaging. The industry is also delving into non-packaging areas like household items and crafts, broadening demand and reducing reliance on single markets. Particularly in the realm of light customization, standardized molded boxes combined with digital inkjet printing and flexible labeling offer new directions and competitive edges for the pulp molding industry.