Gulf Paper, a leadership built on sustainability and innovation

The Gulf Paper Manufacturing Company, established in 1979 in Kuwait as the first paper mill in the Gulf region, is now a leading player in the tissue sector, specializing in recycled paper. Recently, two OMET tissue machines were added to the company’s machinery fleet, significantly boosting its growth: “The TV840.6 and TV840.8 represent a strong addition to the existing machine fleet”, says the management.

Gulf Paper was founded by the Industrial Bank of Kuwait with three to four investors and began producing writing and printing paper in 1982, with a production capacity of 20,000 tons. Within less than a year, it shifted focus to recycled TL and FL (Testliner and Fluting).

In 1989, the Al-Maousherji and Al-Rashed families acquired the company, entering in a new era of prosperity. The production lines were developed multiple times (in 1997, 2002, 2007, 2019, and 2023) to reach the current capacity of 70,000 tons, including new products like white top and kraft paper.

Today, Gulf Paper has a turnover of $45-50 million per year (varying with market price fluctuations), and 400 employees from different nationalities work harmoniously as one team. The company’s facilities cover an area of 60,000 m².

“With over 40 years of experience in this field,” says Ghaleb Al-Hadhrami, Gulf Paper

Projects & Development Manager, “we have always given priority to quality over price, ensuring to deliver high-quality products and optimize the performance of our production sections. Our production and marketing plan has always aimed to meet market requirements as broadly as possible.”

The first production line is dedicated to fluting, test liner, core board, and white top paper of the highest quality and industry standards globally. It has been renewed multiple times to increase capacity to 55,000 tons annually. The second production line focuses on high-quality hygiene paper, including facial tissue, toilet paper, kitchen tissues, and napkins made from virgin pulp, adhering to international industry specifications and standards. This line was developed in 2000, 2008, 2015, and is set for another upgrade in the last quarter of 2024 to reach a total capacity of 15,000 tons annually. The third production line converts 10 to 12 K tons/year of jumbo rolls into different sizes of rolls for use as kitchen and toilet paper rolls, napkins, and high-quality tissue boxes. The primary customers for these products in Kuwait and the Gulf countries are private companies, supermarkets, and cooperative societies, in addition to sales to fast-food outlets in Kuwait, the Gulf, the Middle East, South Africa, and European markets.

Gulf Paper has achieved its goals through careful planning and efficient coordination of all departments using management information systems like SAP, alongside an efficient and modern production department.

“In 2021, during our search for a world-class manufacturer of napkin machines to further modernize our lines, we connected with Mr. Marco Gallo to start our successful collaboration with OMET machines: the TV840.6 and TV840.8 represent a significant addition to the existing production lines of Gulf Paper,” explains Ghaleb Al-Hadhrami. Gulf Paper began with the TV 840.6 to meet its production and quality goals. Satisfied with OMET as a partner, the management contracted for another production line—a TV840.8—to be installed in the first quarter of 2025.

“OMET helped us revolutionize our napkin production by supplying complete production lines and providing full support from commissioning to follow-up,” adds Mr. Al-Hadrami.

The company currently exports 50-60% of its production to all MEA countries, Africa, and Europe. “For the future, we see Kuwait as a promising and attractive investment environment, along with KSA, UAE, and Egypt” states Ghaleb Al-Hadhrami. “However, we also see rapid changes in production and consumption patterns in the near future”.

Over the years, Gulf Paper has succeeded in maintaining its reputation and position as a market leader through continuous investments in growth. In the coming months, Gulf Paper will announce a new major project to produce and localize high-quality paper products that are currently imported. “We have developed the necessary expertise and capabilities to produce them,” assures the management.