Indonesia’s pulp, paper and packaging industry is putting greater emphasis on production efficiency, higher-value products and manufacturing technology as Paper Chain Expo 2026 brings equipment suppliers, producers and industry organizations together in Jakarta.

The Indonesia International Paper Chain Industry Exhibition is being held from August 27–29, 2026, providing a platform for companies across the pulp, paper, tissue, converting and packaging value chains to explore new production technologies and potential business partnerships.

The event comes as Indonesia maintains a significant position in the global pulp and paper market. According to figures cited by the organizers from Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry, the paper, paper products and printing sector accounted for 3.73% of non-oil-and-gas manufacturing GDP in 2025.

Pulp exports reached US$3.60 billion, while paper exports totaled US$4.57 billion. The industry directly employs more than 280,000 people and supports approximately 1.2 million indirect jobs, according to the same figures.

More Than 67 Exhibitors Cover the Paper Supply Chain

Paper Chain Expo 2026 features more than 67 exhibitors from several countries, covering technologies and materials used from pulp and papermaking through converting and finished packaging.

The exhibition focuses on five principal areas:

• Chemicals for paper and packaging manufacturing
• Pulp and paper machinery and pulp-moulding equipment
• Tissue equipment and smart manufacturing
• Fibre-based packaging, tissue and related products
• Wastewater treatment products and technologies

The event is co-located with PACKID, We Pack Southeast Asia and Bakery Asean, expanding its scope into downstream packaging and related applications.

Business matching, industry forums, group visits to paper mills and factory tours are also included in the programme.

Indonesia Looks Beyond Production Volume

For Indonesia, the importance of the exhibition extends beyond its position as a large pulp and paper producer.

The industry is increasingly being challenged to improve the value generated from existing manufacturing capacity through technology adoption, process efficiency and product development.

Suhendra Wiriadinata, chairman of the Indonesian Pulp and Paper Association (APKI), said the industry’s next priority is increasing value addition.

“Indonesia’s pulp and paper industry stands on a strong foundation, but our next priority is driving higher value-add through new technology adoption and more efficient processes,” Wiriadinata said.

He described Paper Chain Expo as a platform where producers can identify operational solutions and establish partnerships that could support manufacturing competitiveness.

For machinery and technology suppliers, this creates opportunities across several areas of mill operations, including stock preparation, papermaking, tissue production, converting, automation, pulp moulding and wastewater treatment.

China Remains Important to Indonesia’s Pulp Trade

The exhibition also reflects the close relationship between the Indonesian and Chinese pulp and paper industries.

Paper Chain Expo is organized by the China National Chemical Information Center (CNCIC) together with APKI, with Maison Events Indo serving as the official local partner.

The organizers said CNCIC and APKI have operated the China-Indonesia Paper Industry Deep Cooperation Mechanism since 2023, covering trade, technology exchange and industrial cooperation across pulp, paper and paper-based products.

That relationship is particularly significant on the pulp side.

According to information released with the event, approximately 75% of Indonesia’s pulp exports in 2024 were destined for China, making the Chinese market an important part of Indonesia’s forest-products trade.

Paper Chain Expo is therefore positioned not only as a domestic Indonesian exhibition but also as a meeting point connecting industry participants from Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Russia, India and the Middle East.

The Vietnam Pulp and Paper Association and Chinese organizations representing pulp-moulded packaging and paper-industry activities are among the supporting organizations.

Technology Investment Becomes More Important to Competitiveness

Indonesia benefits from a substantial pulp and paper manufacturing base and access to fibre resources, but production scale alone does not determine long-term competitiveness.

Mills are also facing pressure to improve energy and resource efficiency, automate production, control manufacturing costs and respond to changing requirements in packaging and other downstream markets.

At the same time, growth in fibre-based packaging is creating opportunities beyond conventional paper grades.

The inclusion of pulp moulding, eco-friendly packaging, tissue manufacturing and smart production technologies at Paper Chain Expo illustrates how the industry’s investment focus is broadening across the value chain.

Wastewater treatment is another significant part of the exhibition, reflecting the importance of water management and process efficiency in pulp and paper manufacturing.

For Indonesian producers, the challenge is increasingly about combining available manufacturing scale with technology capable of producing more efficiently and moving into higher-value applications.

Paper Chain Expo Builds a Regional Industry Platform

Paper Chain Expo 2026 runs through August 29, bringing together mill operators, converters, equipment manufacturers, chemical suppliers, packaging producers, associations and other industry participants.

Its location in Indonesia gives technology suppliers direct access to one of Southeast Asia’s most significant pulp and paper manufacturing markets while providing local producers with an opportunity to evaluate equipment and technologies from international suppliers.

The broader significance of the exhibition lies in what it says about Indonesia’s next stage of pulp and paper development.

The country already has substantial production capacity and an established export position.

The next question is how effectively its mills can use technology, automation, process improvements and downstream product development to convert that scale into greater value.

Paper Chain Expo 2026 is putting those issues at the centre of the industry’s discussions in Jakarta.

Last Updated on 28/08/2026 by Jota Machinery