The United States continues to rely on international suppliers to complement its domestic tissue production, particularly in the parent roll market. However, changing trade conditions, freight costs and new production capacity are influencing how manufacturers and converters approach sourcing decisions.
During the Tissue Summit North America 2026, Jorge Barbosa, senior price reporter at Fastmarkets, highlighted the importance of imports in balancing US tissue supply and demand. He also pointed to a shift in the types of products entering the country, with growing interest in premium and ultra-premium parent rolls.
This trend reflects a structural challenge for independent converters and away-from-home suppliers. Domestic producers often prioritize premium grades for their own branded products, limiting the availability of certain specifications in the open market. Imported parent rolls can therefore provide converters with access to paper qualities that may otherwise be difficult to source domestically.
Asian suppliers, particularly from China and Indonesia, have become relevant participants in this trade. Their competitiveness is influenced not only by production costs but also by product quality, freight availability and the ability to meet specific customer requirements.
Trade policy adds another layer of complexity. Tariffs can alter the relative competitiveness of imported products, but their effects vary according to product classification, country of origin and applicable trade rules. For tissue manufacturers and converters, understanding these distinctions is essential when evaluating sourcing alternatives.
Domestic capacity investments may gradually change the balance between local production and imports. However, new projects do not necessarily eliminate the need for international suppliers, particularly when buyers require specialized paper grades or flexible supply arrangements.
Freight costs also remain an important variable. Tissue products are bulky, and transportation expenses can quickly reduce the competitiveness of imported materials. Premium parent rolls may justify longer supply routes when their performance or availability provides sufficient value to converters.
For the North American tissue industry, the challenge is to balance sourcing flexibility, cost competitiveness and product specifications. As domestic investments and international trade flows continue to evolve, access to the right parent rolls will remain an important factor in the competitiveness of converters and finished-product manufacturers.
