The Global Supercalendered Paper Market is a vital segment within the broader specialty paper industry, serving mass-market publishing, retail advertising, and commercial printing sectors worldwide. Supercalendered (SC) paper is recognized for its distinctive bright, glossy finish achieved without coating, making it the most economical choice for high-volume publications such as magazine inserts, newspaper supplements, mail-order catalogs, and direct advertising materials. The market continues to evolve as publishers and advertisers balance cost efficiency with print quality demands across both developed and emerging economies.

As digital media exerts pressure on traditional print formats, the supercalendered paper industry is responding with leaner production processes, improved fiber efficiency, and sustainable sourcing strategies. Despite these headwinds, SC paper retains strong relevance in segments where tactile, high-quality print communication remains preferred. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Global Supercalendered Paper Industry—a mix of integrated forest product companies, specialty paper manufacturers, and global distributors shaping the competitive landscape of this market.

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🔟 1. Stora Enso Oyj

Headquarters: Helsinki, Finland
Key Offering: SC-A, SC-B Supercalendered Paper Grades, Newsprint

Stora Enso is one of the world’s largest renewable materials companies and a leading producer of supercalendered paper for the European and global markets. The company’s SC paper grades are widely used in magazine publishing, retail catalogs, and promotional print materials. Stora Enso operates an extensive network of mills across Scandinavia and Central Europe, enabling efficient, large-scale production and reliable supply to its global client base.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Committed to sourcing 100% of wood fiber from certified or controlled sources

• Ongoing investments in reducing CO2 emissions across all paper production mills

• Active transition toward bio-based and recycled fiber integration in SC paper production

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9️⃣ 2. UPM-Kymmene Oyj

Headquarters: Helsinki, Finland
Key Offering: UPM Star SC Paper, SC-A and SC-B Grades

UPM-Kymmene is a global frontrunner in the publication paper segment, with supercalendered paper constituting a significant portion of its graphic paper portfolio. The company supplies SC paper to publishers, retailers, and print houses across Europe and North America. UPM’s proprietary SC grades are known for exceptional runnability on high-speed presses, consistent brightness, and reliable print performance, making it a preferred partner for mass circulation publications.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Targets carbon neutrality across all operations by 2030

• Utilizes sustainably managed forests certified under PEFC and FSC standards

• Investing in energy-efficient supercalender technology to reduce operational footprint

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8️⃣ 3. Catalyst Paper Corporation

Headquarters: Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Key Offering: SC-A Supercalendered Paper, Directory Paper, Groundwood Specialties

Catalyst Paper is one of North America’s leading producers of specialty mechanical printing papers, including supercalendered grades. The company serves major newspaper publishers, magazine houses, and commercial printers across Canada and the United States. Catalyst’s SC paper products are valued for their competitive price point and consistent print quality, particularly in the high-volume retail advertising and directory publishing segments.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Fiber sourcing certified under sustainable forest management programs

• Investments in biomass energy utilization at production facilities

• Ongoing reduction of water and energy consumption per tonne of paper produced

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7️⃣ 4. Port Hawkesbury Paper

Headquarters: Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, Canada
Key Offering: SC-A Supercalendered Paper, Lightweight Coated Paper

Port Hawkesbury Paper operates one of the most modern and energy-efficient paper mills in North America, producing high-quality supercalendered and lightweight coated papers. The facility is particularly recognized for its SC-A grade paper, which offers superior smoothness and printability at an economical cost. Port Hawkesbury serves major publishing and retail clients throughout North America, and its mill’s competitive energy structure allows it to maintain pricing advantages in a challenging market environment.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Operations powered substantially by renewable biomass energy

• Fiber procurement under third-party certified sustainable forestry programs

• Continuous improvement initiatives targeting effluent reduction and water recycling

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6️⃣ 5. PG Paper Company Ltd.

Headquarters: Dumbarton, Scotland, United Kingdom
Key Offering: SC Paper Trading, Newsprint, Specialty Paper Distribution

PG Paper is a globally active paper trading company with a strong focus on supercalendered and specialty paper grades. Rather than manufacturing, PG Paper leverages its extensive supplier network across Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and Asia to provide SC paper solutions to publishers, printers, and converters worldwide. The company has built a reputation for flexible supply chain management and responsive customer service, particularly for mid-sized print operations that require reliable access to competitive SC paper grades without the volume constraints typical of large mill direct relationships.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Prioritizes sourcing from mills operating under recognized sustainability certifications

• Supports carbon-conscious logistics optimization across its global supply chain

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5️⃣ 6. Smurfit Kappa Group

Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
Key Offering: Specialty Papers, Newsprint, Graphic Paper Solutions

Smurfit Kappa is a leading pan-European paper and packaging manufacturer with a broad portfolio that includes publication and graphic papers. While the company is best known for its corrugated packaging operations, its paper mills also contribute meaningfully to the SC and lightweight graphic paper markets. Smurfit Kappa’s integrated approach—spanning forestry, pulp production, paper manufacturing, and converting—gives it a distinctive cost and quality advantage across multiple paper grades, including supercalendered applications.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain

• Commitment to responsible fiber sourcing across all European and Latin American operations

• Circular economy principles embedded in production and product design strategies

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4️⃣ 7. Resolute Forest Products

Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Key Offering: SC-A, SC-B Supercalendered Paper, Newsprint, Specialty Papers

Resolute Forest Products is a major North American producer of newsprint and specialty mechanical papers, including supercalendered grades. The company operates several large-scale paper mills across Canada and the United States, supplying SC paper to newspaper publishers, direct mail advertisers, and commercial printers. Resolute is recognized for its vertically integrated operations, which encompass timber harvesting, pulp production, and paper manufacturing, providing a reliable and cost-competitive supply chain for its SC paper customers.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Forest management operations certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

• Significant investment in hydroelectric and biomass energy to reduce fossil fuel dependency

• Active programs for mill water conservation and waste reduction

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3️⃣ 8. Norske Skog

Headquarters: Lysaker, Norway
Key Offering: Publication Paper, SC Paper Grades, Newsprint

Norske Skog is a leading European producer of publication papers, including newsprint and supercalendered grades, with mill operations in Norway, Austria, France, and Australia. The company serves major magazine publishers, newspaper groups, and commercial printers across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Norske Skog has been actively restructuring its portfolio to focus on higher-value specialty papers and sustainable packaging solutions, while maintaining its established position in SC paper for publication applications.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Ambitious targets for renewable energy use across all mill operations

• Diversification into bio-based products and packaging to complement traditional SC paper revenues

• Partnerships with recycled fiber suppliers to reduce virgin fiber dependency in SC production

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2️⃣ 9. Sappi Limited

Headquarters: Johannesburg, South Africa
Key Offering: Graphic Papers, SC and Lightweight Coated Papers, Specialty Cellulose

Sappi is a global diversified wood fiber company with significant operations in Europe, North America, and Southern Africa. Its European division produces a range of graphic papers, including supercalendered and machine-finished grades, serving publishers, retailers, and commercial printers across major markets. Sappi is known for its strong R&D capabilities, which have enabled it to develop high-performance SC paper grades that deliver excellent print results on both offset and gravure presses. Furthermore, Sappi is actively expanding into bio-based materials and specialty packaging as part of its long-term diversification strategy.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Committed to responsible forestry and chain-of-custody certification across all paper grades

• Invests in water stewardship programs at all mill locations globally

• Active Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) participant for emissions reduction

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1️⃣ 10. Holmen AB

Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
Key Offering: SC Paper, Newsprint, Paperboard, Forest Products

Holmen is a Swedish forest industry group with a longstanding heritage in paper and forest products. The company produces newsprint and supercalendered paper at its mills in Sweden and the United Kingdom, serving publication and commercial print markets across Europe. Holmen’s SC paper offering is characterized by consistent quality, high runnability, and competitive brightness levels suited to both heatset offset and rotogravure printing. The company’s fully integrated value chain—from managed forests to finished paper—ensures both supply security and strong environmental stewardship credentials.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• One of the industry’s most advanced positions in climate-positive forestry management

• Mill operations largely powered by renewable electricity and biomass energy

• Long-term goal of fossil-free production across all manufacturing operations

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🌍 Outlook: The Future of Supercalendered Paper Is Leaner, Greener, and More Specialized

The supercalendered paper market is navigating a period of meaningful structural transformation. While total print volumes face ongoing pressure from digital media adoption, SC paper continues to hold a defensible position in high-circulation advertising, retail catalogs, and newspaper supplement segments where its cost-effectiveness and premium surface quality remain unmatched by alternative substrates at comparable price points.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

• Accelerating mill consolidation as producers rationalize capacity in response to declining newsprint and publication paper demand across mature Western markets

• Growing adoption of recycled and certified sustainable fiber in SC paper furnish, driven by both regulatory mandates and brand owner sustainability commitments

• Rising demand for SC paper in Asia-Pacific markets, particularly India and Southeast Asia, where mass-market print publishing and retail advertising continue to expand

• Technological investments in more energy-efficient supercalender configurations, reducing operational costs and environmental impact simultaneously

• Producer diversification strategies targeting packaging, specialty cellulose, and bio-based materials to offset declines in traditional publication paper revenues

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Global Supercalendered Paper Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies profiled above are not only sustaining global supercalendered paper supply—they are actively shaping the industry’s transition toward more sustainable, efficient, and diversified production models that will define its competitive landscape well into the next decade.