Japan has several large companies involved in pulp, paper, paperboard, packaging, and household paper products. Among the best-known names are Oji Holdings, Nippon Paper Industries, and Daio Paper. Their businesses overlap in some areas, but each has different strengths.
Oji Holdings
Oji Holdings has one of the broadest businesses in the Japanese paper industry. It is involved in:
- Pulp production
- Newsprint
- Printing and publication paper
- Packaging materials
- Household paper products
- Specialty and functional papers
- Forestry and wood-related businesses
Oji also produces different types of pulp, including kraft pulp, dissolving pulp, and BCTMP. Its business therefore extends from forest resources and pulp production to finished paper and packaging products.
Nippon Paper Industries
Nippon Paper is another major integrated paper and pulp company. Its main areas include:
- Newsprint
- Printing and communication paper
- Industrial paper
- Containerboard
- White paperboard
- Functional specialty paper
- Tissue and toilet paper
- Liquid packaging products
- Dissolving pulp and functional cellulose
Compared with a company focused mainly on traditional paper, Nippon Paper has a wider portfolio covering paper, packaging, household products, chemicals, energy, and wood-related businesses.
Daio Paper
Daio Paper is particularly known for combining its paper and paperboard business with home and personal care products.
Its paper-related products include:
- Newsprint
- Printing and publication paper
- Wrapping paper
- Containerboard
- Corrugated products
- Pulp
It is also well known for household and hygiene products such as facial tissue, toilet paper, kitchen paper, diapers, feminine care products, and wet wipes, including products sold under its Elleair brand.
How the Three Companies Differ
The main difference is their business focus.
Oji Holdings has a very broad resource-to-product business. It combines forestry, pulp, paper, packaging, specialty materials, household products, and other industrial businesses.
Nippon Paper Industries has a strong base in paper and paperboard but has also expanded into daily-life products, packaging, chemicals, energy, and wood-related businesses.
Daio Paper has a strong combination of traditional paper and paperboard manufacturing with consumer-focused household and personal-care products.
Main Areas of Specialization
For a simple comparison:
- Oji Holdings: pulp, paper, packaging, forestry, specialty materials, and industrial products.
- Nippon Paper Industries: paper, paperboard, packaging, household products, chemicals, and energy.
- Daio Paper: paper, paperboard, pulp, tissue, sanitary products, and personal-care products.
Conclusion
Oji Holdings, Nippon Paper Industries, and Daio Paper are all major Japanese pulp and paper companies, but they are not identical. Oji has a particularly broad resource and industrial portfolio, Nippon Paper combines paper manufacturing with packaging, chemicals and daily-life products, while Daio has a strong connection between paper manufacturing and household hygiene products.