The European Commission has sided with thermal paper producers, alleging that heavily subsidised lightweight thermal paper from China — used in receipts, credit‑card slips and logistics labels — is distorting the market and putting the future of the European supply chain at risk.
The move follows the Commission’s decision to require EU customs authorities to register all imports of Chinese lightweight thermal paper from today (10 February 2026), a step that would allow countervailing duties to be applied retroactively if the investigation confirms subsidisation. Industry groups say the intervention is overdue, arguing that Chinese producers have rapidly expanded their presence in Europe through extensive state support.
It comes after European thermal paper manufacturers late last year filed a formal complaint with the Commission, warning that a surge of low‑priced, state‑supported imports has created a competitive imbalance that threatens the sector’s long‑term viability. The complaint, submitted by the European Thermal Paper Association (ETPA), urged Brussels to launch an anti‑subsidy investigation and take action to restore fair competition.
ETPA says imports of Chinese lightweight thermal paper have risen more than 500% in volume and 538% in market share between 2022 and the first quarter of 2025. Prices have fallen steadily since 2023, forcing European manufacturers to cut their own prices to remain competitive.
“Our European industry welcomes fair competition, but it is patently unfair to compete against the highly subsidised Chinese products now flooding the European market,” according to ETPA President Nic Holmer, who also serves as General Manager Sales & Marketing at Kanzan Spezialpapiere. “We call on the European Commission to take swift and decisive action to ensure a truly competitive and sustainable environment for Europe’s thermal paper sector.”
Jujo Thermal, a Finnish producer and ETPA member, has backed the complaint. The company, based in Kauttua, employs around 180 people directly and produces specialty papers used across retail, hospitality, transport, logistics and pharmaceuticals. The wider European thermal‑paper sector supports about 4,600 jobs across Germany, Finland, Spain and France, often in regions with limited alternative employment opportunities.
Producers warn that the combination of falling prices, rising import volumes and extensive foreign subsidies has created a market distortion that threatens the long‑term stability of the industry. The Commission will now review the complaint alongside its ongoing anti‑subsidy investigation. If it finds evidence of injurious subsidisation, it could impose countervailing duties, potentially retroactive to the date of customs registration.
