UPM Adhesive Materials‘ new label material distribution terminal in Delhi-NCR became operational in Q3 of the calendar year 2026. Spanning approximately one acre, the facility is designed to support an initial annual delivery capacity of 30-35 million square meters, Suresh Valecha, senior country manager, South of Asia, UPM Adhesive Materials, told Packaging South Asia.
Prior to the launch, northern and eastern Indian narrow-web converters relied heavily on supply chains routed through the western ports or the Mumbai terminal.
“This strategic expansion of UPM Adhesive Materials’ presence will deliver significant value to customers through faster deliveries, improved material availability, and greater supply-chain agility. By reducing lead times from the current 8-9 days to just 1-2 days, the new terminal will enable customers to respond more quickly to market demands, optimize inventory levels, reduce working capital requirements, and ensure greater business continuity,” Valecha said over an email interaction.
The objective, Valecha said, is to establish a strong and comprehensive presence in North India by working closely with the company’s customers and offering them a complete range of UPM label material solutions. “Over time, we aim to expand our portfolio and capabilities to address the full spectrum of customer requirements, strengthening partnerships and creating long-term value.”
Expertise in wine and spirits
North India, particularly the NCR and Punjab, is experiencing a massive boom in premium homegrown segments, especially in wine and artisanal spirits.
Explaining how the terminal will accelerate the availability of speciality, high-performance substrates, Valecha said the market is increasingly shifting towards specialization, premiumization, and sustainable solutions, creating significant opportunities for differentiation and value creation.
The local presence, he said, will serve as a strategic platform to strengthen engagement with brand owners and printers, enabling the company to showcase UPM’s differentiated and specialty product portfolio through hands-on experience and collaborative customer interactions.
This will help accelerate the adoption of high-value solutions, foster innovation-led partnerships, and position UPM as a preferred partner in addressing the evolving needs of the Indian label market.
“UPM has a strong portfolio and established expertise in the wine and spirits segment, offering differentiated solutions designed to perform under demanding conditions, including ice-bucket immersion and high-humidity environments. With our enhanced local presence in Delhi, we intend to expand the adoption of these premium solutions by engaging more closely with brand owners and printers, identifying specific application needs, and introducing the right products based on market demand,” he said.
This will enable UPM to strengthen its position in high-value segments, support customer differentiation, and unlock new growth opportunities in North India.
Sustainable labeling
The new UPM label material terminal in Delhi will strengthen sustainability through modern operations, efficient resource utilization, and lower-emission logistics, Valecha said, adding that beyond reducing its own environmental footprint, it will enable customers to improve supply-chain efficiency, reduce emissions, and advance their sustainability objectives.
On UPM’s growth forecast for the North Indian label market, and scaling the processing capabilities of this terminal, Valecha said, “UPM has had a relatively limited presence in North India, and establishing a footprint in one of the country’s largest markets has been a strategic ambition for us for several years. We are pleased to have finally realized this vision.”
The initial outlook is encouraging, with customers responding positively to UPM’s expansion. Building on this momentum and with continued customer support, we aim to progressively scale up the terminal’s capacity in line with market demand and future growth opportunities, he concluded.
