In an exclusive interaction with Paper Mart, Mr. Kiran Barad, Director of Gayatrishakti Tissue, shared that Gayatrishakti has recently introduced a 9 GSM tissue paper grade and this product highlights the company’s technical expertise and the advanced manufacturing capabilities, as very few manufacturers worldwide have been able to produce this grade. He further added that the company is planning to install a new tissue paper machine at its existing facility in Vapi, Gujarat, as part of its upcoming expansion.
Paper Mart: Please tell us about your experience here at Paperex 2025.
Kiran Barad: It’s my first time being at Paperex and the experience has been great so far. We are considering setting up a stall next year, but for now, our focus is on exploring the event, understanding the opportunities, and getting a clearer idea of how we can participate going forward.
PM: What are the recent developments happening in your company?
KB: We started our mill in November 2024 and have recently completed our one year anniversary. We purchased a 30,000 TPA tissue paper machine from Toscotec, enabling us to manufacture the full spectrum of tissue paper grades- including facial, napkin, toilet, towel, and related categories. Our product range spans from 11 GSM to 40 GSM, catering to diverse application requirements.
We have recently introduced a 9 GSM tissue paper, which is a record in itself. Only one company in Japan, I think, has created this product. We’re the second ones to introduce 9 GSM tissue paper, which reflects our technical competence and advanced capabilities of our machine line.
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PM: How do you see the hygiene and sanitation demands evolving in India and how it has increased the demand for your product?
KB: The demand for hygiene and sanitation products has been consistently rising, and we foresee substantial capacity addition across the sector in the coming period. Consumption patterns are increasing rapidly, not only in metropolitan markets but also across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and towns. These emerging markets are becoming key demand drivers, and we are accordingly strengthening our supply network to cater to these regions. This demographic shift is proving to be a significant inflection point for the tissue paper industry.
At present, recycled tissue paper holds a dominant position, despite the absence of a standardized quality framework governing its production. However, with growing consumer awareness for hygiene and safety products, particularly in personal-use categories, there is a clear and accelerating shift toward virgin fibre-based tissue paper.
For instance, when people want to use tissue paper on their face, they are increasingly preferring virgin tissue paper over recycled variants, strengthening the demand for high-quality virgin tissue paper that is expected to continue growing in the coming years.
We are planning to add a second tissue machine with a similar capacity of 30,000 TPA in the near future. The new machine will be integrated into our existing facility in Vapi, Gujarat. We have already engaged with leading tissue machine suppliers and have finalized the model we intend to proceed with.
PM: How do you plan to overcome the raw material shortage in the virgin tissue paper segment?
KB: When it comes to virgin pulp, the main challenge is buying at the right price. The pulp market fluctuates a lot, so it’s important to understand what drives these ups and downs. We need to stay aware of the factors that push prices higher or lower, and time our purchases accordingly.
Building inventory at the right time helps us manage market volatility. When prices rise, maintaining adequate stock levels allows us to continue operations smoothly and protect our margins. And when prices drop, we take the opportunity to replenish our inventory. This approach requires a solid understanding of market trends and global pulp price developments. So we make sure to stay updated and informed at all times.
PM: Are there any investment or market expansion plans in the pipeline?
KB: We are planning to add a second tissue paper machine with a similar capacity- 30,000 TPA in the near future. The new machine will be integrated into our existing facility in Vapi, Gujarat. We have already engaged with leading tissue paper machine suppliers and have finalized the model we intend to proceed with. At this stage, it’s only a matter of timing for the order placement, which will be aligned with market conditions.
Our strategy behind expanding within the Vapi facility is straightforward: consolidating operations at a single site ensuring better control, streamlined logistics, and operational efficiency. From a supplier standpoint, having both machines in the same location significantly simplifies support, maintenance, manpower planning, and overall resource utilization.
Also Read: APRIL Group Strengthens Its Tissue Paper, Packaging and Specialty Paper Segments in India
PM: How do you see the future of the tissue paper industry?
KB: The paper industry is certainly navigating a few challenges at the moment. However, within the broader sector, the tissue paper segment remains comparatively stable due to consistently rising demand. In categories such as writing and printing paper, the demand has shown signs of saturation. In contrast, tissue paper demands continue to grow, driven by increasing hygiene awareness and broader market penetration. This sustained demand-supply trajectory gives the tissue paper segment greater scope compared to other paper categories.
Consumption patterns for tissue paper are increasing rapidly, not only in metropolitan markets but also across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and towns. These emerging markets are becoming key demand drivers, and we are accordingly strengthening our supply network to cater to these regions.
