The ongoing transformation of the global geopolitical landscape is creating new pressures for multiple industries, including tissue manufacturing. Factors such as currency volatility, trade tensions, and shifting economic alliances are becoming increasingly relevant for long term sector planning.
In this context, during his participation at Tissue World Miami 2026, Jacob Shapiro, research director at Perch Perspectives, presented an analysis of the structural challenges facing the tissue industry in North America.
During his presentation, Shapiro explained that the United States continues to operate under a foreign policy framework designed for a unipolar world, while the international system has evolved into a multipolar structure increasingly influenced by powers such as China.
According to the analyst, this shift has reduced the effectiveness of traditional tools such as tariffs and economic pressure, creating a more complex environment for global supply chains. As a result, tissue manufacturers and pulp buyers may face stronger pressure on energy costs, raw material availability, and logistics stability.
He also emphasized that international conflicts should now be viewed as structural business variables due to their prolonged effects on energy and commodity markets.
Shapiro further projected a gradual weakening of the U.S. dollar, driven by institutional reserve reallocations, a scenario that could increase input costs for industries dependent on dollar denominated commodities.
Regarding consumer behavior, he described an increasingly polarized U.S. market in which premium and value focused products show stronger resilience than mid market offerings.
At the same time, he identified opportunities linked to growing spending on health, wellness, and personal care among millennials and Generation Z, a trend that could benefit manufacturers able to align their value proposition with these emerging priorities.
Shapiro concluded that companies across the sector will need to strengthen resilience through supplier diversification, portfolio adjustments, and deeper integration of geopolitical analysis into operational planning.
