UPM expands India footprint with New Delhi slitting terminal, boosting label supply to North, East

INDIA – UPM Adhesive Materials has unveiled a new slitting and distribution terminal near New Delhi, featuring tailored label material inventory and advanced slitting capabilities designed to meet regional customer needs across Northern and Eastern India.

The New Delhi facility complements the company’s Mumbai terminal, which opened in 2024, and is expected to begin operations during the third quarter of 2026.

Harri Janhunen, vice president of strategy for India and the Middle East, explained that the investment supports the growth ambitions of customers in the Northern and Eastern regions and deepens engagement with the dynamic Indian market.

Why Local Slitting Matters

India’s label materials market is surging, driven by food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and e-commerce expansion. For converters and brand owners, local slitting means shorter lead times, reduced minimum order quantities, and greater material flexibility.

The New Delhi terminal will offer customized inventory tailored to regional demand, a significant edge over relying on imported finished rolls from distant hubs.

Strategic Timing in a High-Growth Market

The investment follows UPM’s broader strategy of building local infrastructure where packaging demand outpaces global averages.

India’s self-adhesive label market has seen sustained growth, with urbanisation, organised retail expansion, and traceability regulations driving demand.

By establishing slitting close to Northern and Eastern customers, UPM cuts transport distances, sharpens responsiveness, and delivers faster turnaround on specialized materials.

What This Means for Packaging

For label converters across India, the New Delhi terminal signals a decisive shift toward supply localization.

Instead of relying on imported master rolls with long lead times and large minimum orders, customers can access slit-to-order materials from a regional hub.

This is especially valuable for smaller converters needing just-in-time delivery without extensive safety stock.

The terminal’s advanced slitting capabilities also handle complex specifications, different widths, core sizes, and packaging formats, expanding the range of applications UPM’s materials can serve.

The Bottom Line

As India’s packaging industry races forward, global suppliers are building local footprints.

UPM’s New Delhi terminal, following the 2024 Mumbai launch, positions the company as a key partner for label converters across the country’s northern and eastern industrial corridors.

With operations set for Q3 2026, the facility will serve customers at a critical moment, as India’s consumption boom fuels unprecedented demand for high-performance label materials.

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