Japan’s paper industry is tightening its focus on performance and sustainability, and that shift is shaping demand for dry strength agents — chemicals that improve paper’s tensile, burst and compressive strength without adding weight. Here’s a concise, type-by-type look at the Japan market and what’s driving choices.

Bowse Full Report: https://www.wantstats.com/charts/japan-paper-dry-strength-agents-market-by-type-183168 

Starch-based (mainly cationic starch)
Cationic starch remains the workhorse for internal dry strength in Japan. Modified from native starch to carry positive charges, it bonds efficiently with negatively charged cellulose fibers, improving fiber–fiber bonding at relatively low cost. It’s widely used across newsprint, tissue and packaging grades where good strength and cost-effectiveness are priorities. Research and industry reviews repeatedly identify cationic starch as the dominant dry-strength additive.

Synthetic polyacrylamides (CPAM / APAM / GPAM)
High-molecular-weight polyacrylamides — especially cationic and grafted variants — are used when stronger reinforcement or retention benefits are needed. CPAMs give fast, efficient bonding and can be tailored (molecular weight, charge density) to specific furnish and machine conditions. They’re popular in paperboard and packaging grades where higher burst and compressive strength are required at low dosages.

Resin-type strength agents (PAE / PAAE / PVAm)
Synthetic resin dryers such as polyamidoamine-epichlorohydrin (PAAE/PAE) and polyvinylamine (PVAm) are common when permanent strength or extreme performance is needed (e.g., wet-strength or high-performance liners). These chemistries deliver strong interfiber crosslinking and are used selectively because of cost and recycling/chemical-handling considerations.

Cellulosic derivatives & specialty polymers
Water-soluble cellulose ethers, modified celluloses and newer bio-polymers are sometimes blended with starch or synthetic polymers to fine-tune sheet properties (feel, printability, barrier). These are gaining attention as mills pursue recyclability and lower environmental footprints.

Market drivers in Japan (how type choice is evolving)
Demand for paperboard and tissue (e-commerce packaging, hygiene) supports higher-performance additives, while sustainability pressures push mills toward starch-heavy and recyclable chemistries. Japan’s mature, mostly domestic industry and recent moves to differentiate products (environmentally friendlier lines, automation) mean formulators must balance cost, recyclability and performance. Small and regional mills also face labor shortages and automation pressures that influence additive selection toward easier-to-handle, consistent chemistries.