The UAE produced $27 million worth of paper in 2009 while it showed a 25 per cent increase in production capacity.

Capacity climbed to 10 million tonnes from 8 million tonnes in 2008, industry statistics reveal.

The country is raising its profile in the regional and global paper industry and expanding its reach across the world, said the general manager of Al Fajer Information and Services, organisers of an upcoming major paper exhibition in Dubai.

Paper Arabia 2010, the event for paper, tissue and converting industries, which will now be held every year, instead of every two years, will run from September 26 to 28 at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre.

“In the Middle East, regional demand for paper is higher than domestic supply and two thirds of consumption is imported,” said Satish Khanna, general manager, Al Fajer.

“Some of the new international players from the paper, tissue and converting industry will make their debut for the first time through Paper Arabia 2010,” he added.

Industry flourishing
The paper industry is registering spectacular growth with several production centres and paper converting businesses flourishing, he said.

The show, in its third edition, will place special emphasis on hygiene and disposable products seeing the surge in demand on various products like wet wipes, baby diapers and sanitary napkins.

The third edition of Paper Arabia, with more than 150 exhibitors from 30 countries worldwide, will be a key platform for traders and industry players to interact, a statement said.

The show’s participants include leading global names from the paper, tissue and converting sectors.

There are some 25 players in the paper industry in the UAE and regional business expansion of these companies has also brought in increasing competition. In this context, industry sources indicate that the industry could be on the verge of consolidation to shore up profitability.

“The expo serves as a launching pad for new technologies targeted at the Middle East region,” Khanna said.

“The show’s participants include leading global names from France, the US, the UK, India, China, Germany, Taiwan, Indonesia, Austria and Korea to name a few.”

French firms, well known in the world for providing superior quality of paper and relevant machinery, will participate under a national pavilion while the Chinese pavilion will capture a wide range of household paper products and machinery equipment, he added.