When TW visited Mexico for this issue’s Country Report it was easy to see why it has made it into the MINTs (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey) list of countries to watch. There were people on the move in all walks of life in Mexico City and the surrounding areas where new buildings were being constructed on every other corner and tourists were flocking to the city’s modern art museums.
Mexico’s middle class is growing; according to the Estadística, Geografía e Informática (National Institute of Statistic, Geography and Informatics), the percentage of middle-class households grew by four percentage points between 2000 and 2010, to account for 42.4% of all households.
All the indications are that these consumers like and want more of the tissue products they buy.
Our two operation reports reinforce the point that Mexico is very much on the move. Fabrica de Papel San Francisco claim a world first after it started up the first ever NTT line in July 2013, a PM that is now boosting the company’s premium export drive into the US.
And SCA talks about establishing its new Sahagún plant through growth and innovation in a country full of the world’s largest global tissue producers. As plant director Roberto Deleón tells TW: “The class C and D, Mexico’s middle classes, have more and more disposable income. They have a lot more money now and our products are becoming a habit. Income per capita is higher here than in other Latin American countries and this makes consumption here higher.”
Between 2002 to 2010, production capacity in Mexico increased by 30% while the country’s population continues to grow at a steady 1.2% per year. Mill production in Mexico averages about 81,000 MT/Yr, ahead of Canada but behind the US. With the close proximity and influence of America (trade with the US represents about 78% of Mexico’s exports) and the Latin American powerhouse of Brazil, the Mexican tissue market is increasingly striking its own cord.
Special report: south eastern USA
For our special report on south eastern USA, TW visited Atlas Paper, Cascades Rockingham, Roses Southwest Paper and Von Drehle. Here, we bring you the latest developments from an area of America that represents 40% of the country’s total T&T production and in which three companies account for three quarters of production.
Tissue World Americas in Miami!
TW would look to offer a warm welcome to all those at Tissue World Americas in Miami! TW will be doing daily bulletins at the show and for those unfortunate enough not to be able to attend, we will publish a summary of the key highlights of the show and conference in the May/June issue of the magazine and website.
