The Global Paper Dry Strength Additive Market was valued at USD 5,362 Million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 8,681.58 Million by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.50% during the forecast period (2024–2032). This substantial growth is being driven by the relentless boom in e-commerce packaging, rising demand for sustainable paper products, and the paper industry’s continuous push for cost optimization and performance enhancement through advanced chemistries.

As paper manufacturers globally seek to produce stronger, lighter, and more environmentally friendly products, the spotlight is on the specialty chemical companies who are pioneering the development of next-generation dry strength additives (DSAs). In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Paper Dry Strength Additive Industry—a mix of global chemical giants, specialized solution providers, and innovators in bio-based chemistries that are shaping the future of papermaking.

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🔟 1. Kemira Oyj

Headquarters: Helsinki, Finland
Key Offering: FennoBond™, FennoSize™ range, Bio-based DSAs

Kemira is a leading global chemicals company serving the pulp and paper industry, with dry strength additives being a core pillar of its portfolio. Known for its deep application expertise and sustainable solutions, Kemira helps papermakers improve runnability, reduce costs, and enhance sheet strength with products like cationic starch and synthetic polymers.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

• Significant R&D focus on bio-based and biodegradable strength additives.

• Solutions designed to increase the use of recycled fiber while maintaining performance.

• Commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of paper production through innovative chemistries.

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Paper Dry Strength Additive Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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9️⃣ 2. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Basoplast®, Polymin® series (PAM, PVAm)

BASF’s Performance Chemicals division offers a comprehensive portfolio of dry and wet strength additives for the paper industry. Their synthetic polymers, including polyacrylamide (PAM) and polyvinylamine (PVAm), are renowned for providing exceptional dry strength at low dosage levels, enabling significant fiber savings and improved paper quality.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

• Development of renewable raw material-based additives as part of its broader sustainability strategy.

• Advanced polymer technologies that enhance performance in challenging paper grades, including packaging and board.

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8️⃣ 3. Solenis LLC

Headquarters: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Key Offering: Perform™ Strength Resins, Retention and Drainage Aids

Solenis is a premier global specialty chemical company dedicated to the pulp, paper, and packaging markets. The company provides a holistic approach to papermaking, with its dry strength additives playing a critical role in optimizing strength development, formation, and water removal, leading to higher machine speeds and better product quality.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

• Focus on closed-loop systems and chemistry that supports water conservation and reduced energy use.

• Customer-centric R&D for developing tailored solutions for specific mill challenges, especially in recycled fiber applications.

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7️⃣ 4. Ecolab (Nalco Water)

Headquarters: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Key Offering: Nalco™ PC Series Strength Polymers, 3D TRASAR™ monitoring

Operating under its Nalco Water business, Ecolab provides integrated water, hygiene, and process technologies, including a robust line of paper process chemicals. Their dry strength additives are part of a larger suite of solutions aimed at improving paper machine efficiency, product quality, and sustainability outcomes through precise monitoring and control.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

• Leveraging its 3D TRASAR™ technology for real-time monitoring and optimal dosing of additives.

• Comprehensive programs aimed at helping customers reduce water usage, energy consumption, and fiber costs.

Download FREE Sample Report:
Paper Dry Strength Additive Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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6️⃣ 5. Ashland Global Holdings Inc.

Headquarters: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Key Offering: Hercules® Strengths, AquaTreat® polymers

Ashland’s Hercules® paper technologies division is a historic and respected name in paper chemicals. The company offers a wide range of dry strength resins and starches that improve internal bonding and surface strength. Their expertise is crucial for producing high-performance packaging, tissue, and printing papers.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

• Innovation in natural polymer modifications, such as cationic and amphoteric starches, for enhanced performance and sustainability.

• Solutions that support the circular economy by improving the quality and strength of paper made from post-consumer recycled fiber.

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5️⃣ 6. Seiko PMC Corporation

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Polyfloc™ series (PAM), Cationic Starch

Seiko PMC is a major Japanese chemical manufacturer with a significant global presence in the paper chemicals market. The company provides high-quality polyacrylamide-based dry strength agents that are widely used across Asia and other key paper-producing regions to enhance paper strength and machine efficiency.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

• Strong focus on R&D for high-efficiency polymers that allow for lower dosage rates and reduced environmental impact.

• Commitment to supporting the Asian paper industry’s growth with localized production and technical service.

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4️⃣ 7. Buckman

Headquarters: Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Key Offering: Bulab® Strength Additives, Enzymatic Solutions

Buckman is a specialty chemical company known for its customer-focused, holistic “Buckmanism” approach. Its paper chemicals division offers innovative dry strength additives alongside its renowned enzymes and retention aids, providing integrated solutions that address multiple papermaking challenges simultaneously.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

• Pioneering work in combining enzymatic treatments with strength additives to unlock fiber potential and reduce chemical usage.

• Global technical service network providing on-site optimization to improve paper strength and production sustainability.

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3️⃣ 8. Harima Chemicals Group, Inc.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Lignin-based Dispersants, Specialty Chemicals for Paper

Harima Chemicals is a key player, particularly in Asia, with a strong portfolio that includes materials used in paper strengthening. While known for its lignin-based products, its chemical offerings contribute to the overall paper strength and performance ecosystem, often working in synergy with other additives.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

• Leadership in developing and commercializing value-added chemicals from lignin, a renewable by-product of the pulp industry.

• Contributing to more sustainable papermaking by utilizing bio-based raw materials.

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2️⃣ 9. Changhai Group of Companies

Headquarters: Dongying, Shandong, China
Key Offering: Polyacrylamide (PAM), Anionic & Cationic Polymers

As one of the world’s largest producers of polyacrylamide (PAM), Changhai Group is a critical supplier of raw materials and formulated products for the global paper dry strength additive market. Its scale and cost-competitive production make it a significant force, especially in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

• Vertical integration in PAM production provides supply chain stability and cost advantages.

• Increasing investment in R&D to produce higher-purity and more application-specific polymers for the paper industry.

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1️⃣ 10. Arakawa Chemical Industries, Ltd.

Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Key Offering: Tackifiers, Rosin-based Sizing Agents, Performance Additives

Arakawa Chemical specializes in rosin-based and hydrocarbon resin chemicals for papermaking. While primarily known for internal and surface sizing agents that improve water resistance, these products interact with and support the overall strength development system within the paper sheet, contributing to key performance metrics.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

• Long-standing expertise in natural resin chemistry, with ongoing development of high-performance, tailored additives.

• Strategic focus on developing products compatible with neutral/alkaline papermaking and recycled fiber systems.

Get Full Report Here:
Paper Dry Strength Additive Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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🌍 Outlook: The Future of Paper Dry Strength Additives Is Smarter and More Sustainable

The paper dry strength additive market is undergoing a significant transformation. While traditional starch and synthetic polymers continue to be workhorses, the industry is investing heavily in bio-based chemistries, smart dosing technologies, and additives designed for the circular economy.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

• Accelerated R&D into high-performance, non-toxic bio-polymers derived from starch, cellulose, and other renewable sources.

• Increasing demand for additives that perform exceptionally well with high percentages of recycled and non-wood fibers.

• Digitalization and AI-driven process control for real-time additive optimization, reducing waste and improving consistency.

• Strategic partnerships between chemical companies and paper mills to co-develop next-generation, application-specific solutions.

Get Full Report Here:
Paper Dry Strength Additive Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only supplying essential chemistry—they’re enabling the paper industry to produce stronger, lighter, and more sustainable products for a modern world.