JK Paper to scale up exports; eyes Middle East, African mkts

JK Paper plans to increase export volumes by up to 20 per cent and is eyeing Middle East, South Asian and African markets, riding high on availability of additional capacity from its new Orissa plant.
The company, one of the leading paper manufacturers in the domestic market, is aiming to export up to 50,000 tonnes of paper this fiscal as compared to 40,000 tonnes in FY15.
"After commencement of our Rayagada plant in Orissa, our paper production increased to 4.55 lakh tonnes from 1.65 lakh tonnes," JK Paper President A S Mehta told PTI.
Subsequently, he said: "This fiscal we are targeting to export 45,000 to 50,000 tonnes of paper. We are looking for markets in Middle East, Africa and South Asian countries."

Earlier, JK Paper's export was between 12,000 to 15,000 tonnes only in FY14 and the company got a major boost after its Rs 1,900-crore plant in Orissa was commissioned in 2013.
For the domestic market, he said the company is expanding distribution network, focusing on tier II & III places.

"Last year, we took our distribution network to up to 130 and this fiscal we are planning to take it to 180 by adding around 50 more," Mehta said, adding that the company has expanded product portfolio to address a wider range of customers.
"In the copier segment last year, we launched JK Max series in the economy segment and it has increased our volume by three per cent," he said.

On plantation front, he said JK Paper would continue to plant 16,000 to 17,000 hectares every year to be a green company.
"We are a net green company. We would continue to plant 16,000 to 17,000 hectares every year in the radius of 200 kms of our plant," he said.
Till date, JK Paper has planted over 1.33 lakh hectares of land, the company said.
JK Paper's consolidated net sales in FY15 was Rs 2,160.11 crore, up 24.29 per cent as against Rs 1,737.93 crore in 2013-14.