Thermal paper market seen reaching $5.7 billion by 2031

Allied Market Research projects the global thermal paper market will grow from $3.4 billion in 2021 to $5.7 billion by 2031, driven by point-of-sale demand, packaging needs and stricter pharmaceutical traceability rules. The forecast points to steady growth even as paperless payments and raw-material volatility pressure the category. Why it matters: - Thermal paper remains tied to everyday commerce, from receipts to labels and tickets, so market growth tracks activity in retail, food service and logistics. - The forecast suggests the category still has room to expand even as digital payments and paperless workflows chip away at some usage. - Sustainability and health concerns are forcing thermal paper makers to adapt products and production methods. What happened: - Allied Market Research projected the global thermal paper market will rise from $3.4 billion in 2021 to $5.7 billion by 2031. - The report forecast a 5.4% compound annual growth rate from 2022 to 2031. - The report said demand is rising at the point of sale and across multiple regions. - The research covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA. The details: - The market is segmented by printing technology, application and region. - Printing technology segments include direct thermal, thermal transfer and others. - Application segments include point of sale, tags and labels, lottery and gaming, ticketing and others. - The report linked growth to stronger government policies and higher domestic consumption of pharmaceutical and food and beverage products in South Asia. - The report also pointed to growing demand from the printing and packaging industry. - Raw-material price swings and the growth of paperless transactions were identified as headwinds. - BPA use in thermal paper was cited as a health concern that could slow thermal paper rolls demand. - Some businesses are adopting digital receipt software that works with existing POS systems and printing receipts only when customers request them. - The report cited breakthroughs in thermal transfer technology as another growth opportunity. - A U.S. Census Bureau estimate said supermarket and grocery store sales in 2019 topped $650 billion, more than triple the level from a decade earlier. - Major market players listed in the report include Appvion, Domtar Corporation, Hansol Paper, Henan Province JiangHe Paper, Jujo Thermal, Kanzaki Specialty Papers, Koehler Paper, Lecta, Mitsubishi Paper Mills, Nakagawa Manufacturing, Oji Holdings, Panda Paper Roll, Rotolificio Bergamasco, Thermal Solutions International and Twin Rivers Paper Company. - Other players named were Avery Dennison, Ricoh and Siam Paper. Between the lines: - The market is being pulled in two directions: more receipts and labels from retail, food delivery and pharmaceuticals, but less paper use as digital transactions spread. - Sustainability pressure is likely to favor lower-impact thermal paper products and more selective printing. - The inclusion of BPA concerns suggests regulatory and customer scrutiny could shape product design as much as demand does. What’s next: - The report expects thermal paper usage to keep expanding steadily through 2031. - Manufacturers are likely to focus on product innovation, digital receipt tools and more sustainable alternatives. - Growth in packaging, POS and traceability applications should remain the key demand drivers.