The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s coated printing and writing paper market is projected to experience steady growth over the next decade. According to IndexBox data, market volume is expected to reach 1.1 million tons by 2035, supported by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.6% from 2024 to 2035. In terms of value, the market is set to rise at a slightly higher CAGR of 1.8%, reaching $1.3 billion by the end of the forecast period.
Market Performance in 2024
In 2024, regional consumption rose sharply to 959,000 tons, marking an 11% year-on-year increase. Despite this rebound, overall consumption remains below the 2013 peak of 1.6 million tons, following a decade-long decline. In value terms, the MENA coated paper market reached $1 billion in 2024, up 2.7% from 2023, although still trailing the $1.6 billion recorded in 2013.
Top Consuming Countries
The largest consumers in 2024 were:
Turkey: 207K tons
United Arab Emirates: 193K tons
Saudi Arabia: 160K tons
Together, these three countries accounted for 58% of regional consumption.
The next tier of consumers—Egypt, Iran, Israel, Morocco, Algeria, Jordan, and Tunisia—collectively represented 35%.
Among these, Egypt saw the fastest growth with a CAGR of +2.3% over the 2013–2024 period.
Per Capita Consumption
In per capita terms:
UAE led with 19 kg/person
Israel and Saudi Arabia followed at 4.4 kg/person each
Jordan recorded 2.5 kg/person
The global average stood at 1.6 kg/person
Between 2013 and 2024, UAE maintained moderate per capita growth, while Israel and Saudi Arabia experienced declines of -8.7% and -6.3% per year, respectively.
Imports Overview
MENA imported 976K tons of coated printing and writing paper in 2024, up 13% from 2023. However, like consumption, import volumes remain significantly below their 2013 peak of 1.7 million tons.
In value terms, imports reached $1.1 billion, showing a modest recovery from previous years. The sharpest year-on-year growth occurred in 2022 with a 42% increase.
Top Importing Countries
The top four importers in 2024—UAE, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt—accounted for over two-thirds of total imports.
In value terms, the leading importers were:
UAE: $209M
Turkey: $204M
Egypt: $175M
Egypt stood out with the highest value growth, achieving a CAGR of +7.1% over the review period.
Product Types and Trends
More than 85% of imports consisted of:
Paper and paperboard coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances, for printing and writing purposes
Primarily in rolls, with ≤10% mechanical fibre content
Other notable imported types included:
Paperboard with higher mechanical fibre content
Carbon/self-copy paper and offset plate materials
Among these, the strongest growth (CAGR +5.9%) was seen in kaolin-coated paper rolls with low mechanical fibre, both in volume and value.
Outlook
While the region’s coated printing and writing paper market has not yet returned to its pre-2013 highs, the recent growth in consumption, imports, and value indicates a gradual recovery. Demand is expected to be driven by printing, publishing, packaging, and advertising sectors, as well as by economic diversification across Gulf countries.
Sustained investments in print media, education, and commercial printing, combined with efforts to streamline regional import logistics, are likely to support continued momentum through 2035.
Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform
