Global production of chemical wood pulp 1961-2021

The global production of chemical wood pulp surpassed 151 million metric tons in 2021. Worldwide chemical wood pulp production has increased significantly since the 1960s, with the largest drop in production occurring in 2009, during the global financial crisis.

Chemical wood pulp refers to pulp that has been produced by combining wood chips with chemicals in large vessels called digesters. In this process, the chemicals are combined with heat to break down lignin (the material that binds the cellulose fibers together) without causing significant damage to the cellulose fibers.