Tissue paper is one of the most significant commodities in homes, offices, and industries across the globe. Not only has tissue paper played a great role in the lives of people around the globe, but it also, in Pakistan, is now a part of daily life due to the demand for various varieties, such as toilet rolls and facial tissues and napkins.
Growth in tissue paper manufacturers in Pakistan has gained tremendous momentum over the past few years because it has been rising with growing demand for hygiene products along with innovation in tissue packaging. The boon of technological advancement and the increased need for hygienic products have only groomed local producers in grooming tissue paper production into a growing concern in Pakistan.
The Rise of Tissue Paper Manufacturing in Pakistan
The tissue paper industry has experienced significant growth lately, and tissue paper companies are mushrooming across the country. This mainly reflects the growing middle class that is more health and hygiene conscious. The availability of affordable tissue paper products, in forms ranging from toilet rolls to facial tissues, has made them indispensable in everyday life. In Pakistan, the tissue paper production is also supporting the local market besides foreign exchange earnings. Most of the manufacturers target overseas markets.
An alteration of lifestyle and pattern of consumption has been one of the major reasons for the ever-increasing demand for tissue paper products. The increasingly urbanized consumer base is looking for ease and convenience, which tissue products offer. Hygiene awareness, particularly after the global pandemic, has been a major contributor to the demand for tissues as people focus more on cleanliness and personal hygiene.
Key Drivers of Industry Growth
The growth of tissue paper manufacturers in Pakistan can be attributed to several key factors:
Increased Hygiene Awareness
The COVID-19 pandemic allowed the whole world to embrace a better way of living. People realized their ignorance concerning hygiene and the impact it had on lives globally. The pandemic made people shift towards better hygiene more profoundly, and as such, consumers began to demand tissue products significantly because they considered it sensible to spend their money on products that assure them health and safety, such as tissues, napkins, and toilet rolls.
Rise in Disposable Income
With increased disposable incomes, disposable tissue paper products, such as facial tissues and wet wipes, have gained in demand. Better middle-class purchasing power resulted in more demand for good quality tissue products that were easy to use.
Technological Advancements
Pakistani tissue paper manufacturers are increasingly incorporating the latest technologies in production to ensure superior quality while keeping the production cost within limits. Other improvements in manufacturing processes, better techniques for producing papers, and procuring better raw materials led to an all-round improvement in the industry.
Growth of the Retail Sector
The expansion of the retail networks in Pakistan includes supermarkets, grocery chains, and online platforms. As a result, tissue paper products are available to the masses, and tissue paper companies are facing an expansion in distributing them within the urban and rural markets.
Sustainability and Eco-friendly Products
Tissue paper products that are environmentally friendly have been in high demand with the increasing environmental concern of citizens around the globe. Tissue manufacturers in Pakistan are catering to increasing demand, cutting the environmental impact, and appealing to eco-friendly consumers through tissue products made from recycled or biodegradable materials.
Challenges Faced by Tissue Paper Manufacturers in Pakistan
Despite the significant growth of the tissue paper industry in Pakistan, the sector faces several challenges:
Raw Material Costs
Tissue paper production mainly relies on raw materials. In this case, it is based on wood pulp. Fluctuation of the prices for these raw materials may interfere with the production cost, hence the price of the tissue paper product. To avoid or reduce the negative impact caused by high costs due to fluctuating raw material prices, manufacturers will need to consider long-term supply contracts with suppliers or an avenue to explore other raw materials, such as recycled paper.
Competition
This tissue paper industry is highly competitive, with local and international brands from Pakistan trying to grab as much market share as possible. Manufacturers need to be innovative day after day, improve their product quality, and present attractive pricing strategies so that the products stand out in the market.
Environmental Impact
The tissue paper industry has faced several criticisms because of its environmental footprint, especially due to the deforestation and using non-recyclable material. Keeping this in mind, several tissue paper manufacturers in Pakistan have focused on sustainable product lines such as recycled paper and eco-friendly packaging. However, sustainable production is quite pricey and requires a lot of investment.
Top 3 Tissue Paper Manufacturers in Pakistan
VSoft
VSoft is one of Pakistan’s major tissue paper manufacturers, and all its products are of superior quality. The company’s prominent items include toilet paper, facial tissues, napkins, and kitchen towels. The company has acquired great recognition with innovative products, and quality is maintained regularly and at a very low price. In addition, it is known for modern manufacturing techniques and sustainability in production processes. VSoft products are sold across both the domestic and international markets to countries.
Packages Limited
Packages Limited continues to be one of Pakistan’s biggest and most recognized tissue paper manufacturing companies. The company has operated since 1956 and produces a wide range of tissue products, including toilet rolls, facial tissues, and napkins. It has a great reputation for its brand due to state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and commitment to sustainability. Consequently, Packages Limited’s tissue products are widely found in Pakistan and exported to many countries worldwide.
Sapphire Fibres Limited
Sapphire Fibres Limited is another one of the companies in the Sapphire Group. It is among the largest tissue paper-producing manufacturing companies in Pakistan. Soft & smooth product lines come under “Soft & Smooth.” The company enjoys producing using high-tech manufacturing equipment and a focus on environmental sustainability. The company presents premium and value-oriented products catering to a wide spread of customers from across the country and overseas as well.
The companies who are like VSoft are one of the major contributors to this tissue paper in Pakistan, and their presence in local markets coupled with international markets has underlined the significance of these companies in the sector.
Final thoughts
Tissue paper manufacturers are well placed to capitalize on the surge in demand for hygiene products due to fast rising health awareness, shifts in consumer preferences, and the advance of technology. All this testifies to growing market demands for quality, convenience, and sustainability that have been factored into tissue paper industry growth. The tissue paper companies need to be agile, innovative about product lines and packaging, and find better solutions to the problems they encounter. Meanwhile, if proper strategies are developed, Pakistani tissue paper companies will continue growing well into both their home and international markets.
Tissue paper production in Pakistan will also rise in the years as well. Hence, opportunities and challenges await tissue paper manufacturers from Pakistan in these areas. The quality standards of Pakistan tissue paper producers will rise, the demands of sustainability will be met, and innovation in product offerings will go on in the following years, and Pakistan shall become a more vital player in global markets.