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Al Ghandi inaugurates the event.

Paper expo opens doors in Dubai

DUBAI, September 21, 2014

More than 8,000 companies from across the globe are taking part in this year’s Paper Arabia expo, which opened today (September 21) in Dubai, UAE.

The first-of-its-kind industry expo was inaugurated by Buti Saeed Al Ghandi, Chairman of Emirates Investment and Development, UAE, and managing director of Al Ghandi Group, at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Paper Arabia has attracted key players in paper and tissues production, in addition to manufacturers of paper from the Middle East and the world. The exhibition also provides an opportunity for major machinery manufacturing firms and other service providers to showcase their latest innovations.

Now in its seventh edition, the event has attracted participants from the UAE, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Libya, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Norway, Pakistan, Taiwan, Netherlands, UK and the US.

Latest industry statistics revealed on the sidelines of the first day revealed that the UAE is self-sufficient in tissue production through its three Abu Dhabi mills, with its per capita consumption in 2013 at 12 kg, against 4.5 kg in China, 24 kg in the US and 16 kg in Western Europe.

The UAE’s production of tissues stood at 120,000 tonnes in 2013 through the three mills: Abu Dhabi National Paper Mill (ADNPM), Queenex Hygiene Paper Manufacturing (QHPM) and Crown Paper Mill. Consumption was 70,000 tonnes, with hotels and the tourism industry taking a significant share of this demand.

Helmut Berger, the general manager of ADNPM, said a “big chunk of the tissue consumption in the UAE is facial tissues”.

Nahed Basma, sales and marketing manager of QHPM, said: “The three Abu Dhabi paper mills serve a wide range of nearly 40 converting factories. 40 per cent of the production at QHPM is consumed locally, while the balance goes to GCC and other countries in the world.”

According to statistics, facial tissues represent 65 per cent of the total tissue consumption in the country.

As far as the general paper industry is concerned, production and printing of paper is largely done in the UAE for the entire Arab world.

Lamyae Zafati, the exhibition manager of Al Fajer Information and Services, organizers of Paper Arabia 2014, said: “Dubai has an edge over other producers of paper because of speedy delivery, cost-effectiveness and lower freight costs.”

She added: “The UAE is playing a key role in the re-export of paper and tissues to the entire Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. It is also a producer of paper through key major factories based in the country. The paper industry in the region has grown significantly and Paper Arabia 2014 reflects our efforts to highlight major regional industry segments which have been contributing to the economic growth.”

This year's Paper Arabia is 25 per cent bigger than the previous edition and Zafati said the larger show “demonstrates the robustness of the paper industry in the UAE and regionally, in products as well as machinery”.

Corrugated and carton industries have been added to the line-up in this edition.

Zafati said paper consumers in the world were looking at Dubai as an alternative hub for Europe due to its cost effectiveness and speed of delivery, making it a strong candidate for acquiring a lead position in this industry.

According to her, China and Indonesia accounted for over a quarter of the paper brought into the UAE.

These two countries export more paper to the UAE ($1.04 billion) than Germany, US, Italy, Sweden and UK put together ($974 million), she stated citing statistics released by Dubai Customs as well as UN Comtrade studies.

"We anticipate huge success for Paper Arabia," she added.

The show will continue until Tuesday, September 23. -TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Dubai | paper |

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