Introduction to printing paper

Printing paper is a general term for paper products used for various printing materials. It is classified into roll paper and sheet paper according to packaging form, and includes newsprint, writing paper, book and periodical paper, packaging paper, letterpress printing paper, offset printing paper, high-grade glossy cardstock, etc. according to application. It has the characteristics of good printing adaptability and high opacity. Coated paper and corrugated paper are its common types. China's printing paper industry completed its technological transformation from letterpress printing to offset printing in the 1980s. Modern offset printing paper should have characteristics such as low elasticity, high smoothness, and strong printing adaptability, and comply with the national standard GB/T30130-2023.

In 1939, the Zhenhua Paper Mill in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region used Malan grass as raw material to produce printing paper, solving the problem of paper supply in the base area. In 2024, the output of offset printing paper reached 9.48 million tons, with the domestic market holding a dominant position globally. The new national standard implemented in the same year adjusted technical indicators such as thickness deviation. In September 2025, the Shanghai Futures Exchange launched futures and options for offset printing paper, forming a risk management chain of "pulp - offset printing paper". In the environmental protection field, the purity of recycled paper is enhanced through the "sharp Eye" sorting technology, and the zero-plastic water-based barrier technology replaces traditional plastic packaging to achieve the goal of biodegradability.

Depending on the printing method, paper has specific properties. For instance, newsprint used for printing newspapers and periodicals and letterpress paper for printing books have good ink absorption and do not show through. Offset newsprint used for overcolor printing has a high water absorption, deformation and expansion rate. The securities paper used for gravure printing has a fine surface and the printed lines are clear and realistic. Paper exclusively for printing. According to their uses, they can be classified as newsprint, book and periodical paper, cover paper, security paper, etc. According to different printing methods, it can be classified into letterpress printing paper, gravure printing paper, offset printing paper, etc.