Q1 sees 28% value surge in paper imports

The Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) reports a 39% increase in paper and paperboard imports, reaching 4 lakh tonnes in FYQ1, urging the government to increase duties on the imports.

Image Source: Pixabay

A trade group estimates that India’s imports of paper and paperboard increased by 39% to 409,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2023–24 from 294,000 tonnes in the same quarter the previous year. According to statistics from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association reported that imports increased by 28% in value terms to Rs 3,153 crore in the first quarter of FY2023–24 compared to the same time in the previous year.

According to the official trade data, there was a 25% increase in imports of paper and paperboard in FY2022-23 over the prior year. Paper and paperboard imports totalling Rs 12,531 crore were made in FY23. In terms of volume, imports from China increased by 37% while those from ASEAN nearly tripled during the April to June fiscal year 24 period.

In Q1, the imports surged, with uncoated writing and printing paper gaining 214%, followed by coated, kraft, and tissue paper, primarily supplied by China, Indonesia, and Singapore. The Indian Paper Manufacturers Association reports that China, Japan, and South Korea are the primary importers of coated paper and paperboard.

Indian Paper Manufacturers Association president Pawan Agarwal reports lower import costs for paper and paperboard, with nil duty from ASEAN, South Korea, and Japan under FTAs and preferential duty from China. To guarantee a fair playing field for domestic paper makers, IPMA has requested the government to raise the basic customs charge on imports of paper and paperboard.