Shanghai's paper-making industry is expected to gather speed in the next five years with the city's annual paper production capacity anticipated to reach 2 million tons by 2010, according to the Shanghai Paper Trade Association.

The 2010 output of paper and cardboard is expected to top 1.95 million tons, up 140.9 percent over that of 2005. From this year to 2010, the average annual growth rate of the industry is estimated at 28.2 percent, according to the association's latest forecast.

The paper industry's revenue is expected to reach 9.3 billion yuan (1.16 billion U.S. dollars) in Shanghai, 181.8 percent higher than at the end of 2005.

During the period, 10.05 billion yuan (1.25 billion U.S. dollars) will be spent on increasing the paper production capacity by 300,000 tons of newsprint, 100,000 tons of toilet paper, 400,000 tons of packaging cardboard, and 410,000 tons of white cardboard.

The industry has been in the doldrums for the last ten years under the city's reinforced pollution control efforts. However, with the introduction of computer-controlled production lines and advanced bio-engineering sewage disposal technology, the modern paper-making industry has taken shape in Shanghai.

The Shanghai Paper Trade Association said that the industry will experience a boom as a result of the improved pollution control technologies.

Source: Xinhua