Per capita consumption of tissue in the UAE in 2013 was 12 kg, compared with 4.5 kg in China, 24 kg in the U.S., and 16 kg in Western Europe. These international industry statistics were released during the recent Paper Arabia 2014 event, the first-of-its-kind industry expo that was inaugurated by Buti Saeed Al Ghandi, chairman of the board of directors, Emirates Investment and Development PSC, UAE, at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

 

"A big chunk of the tissue consumption in the UAE is facial tissues, quite different from the consumption scene in other parts of the world." said Helmut Berger, GM, Abu Dhabi National Paper Mill (ADNPM).

 

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

 

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

 

According to statistics released at the event, facial tissues represent 65% 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. Dubai is thus truly the printing house of the region.