The industry is the key provider of packaging material to pharmaceutical, FMCG, food Industry, automobile, electrical appliances and several other sectors.
Published: 28th February 2022 06:35 AM | Last Updated: 28th February 2022 06:35 AM | A+ A A-
Corrugated box manufacturers have urged the Union government to ban export of kraft paper and ensure regular supply of waste paper to the industry. (Photo| Aravind Raj, EPS)
COIMBATORE: The rise of raw material price has pushed corrugated box manufacturers in a tight spot. The sector employs over 50,000 workers in Tamil Nadu and their lives are in jeopardy as several units are on the verge of suspending or shutting down operations.
The industry is the key provider of packaging material to pharmaceutical, FMCG, food Industry, automobile, electrical appliances and several other sectors. It is an eco-friendly industry that uses kraft paper as raw material. Discarded boxes are collected from the market and recycled into is kraft paper.
S Thirumoorthi, president of the South Indian Corrugated Box Manufacturers' Association (Coimbatore Chapter) said majority of the industries rely on imported paper pulp and Covid affected the supply chain. The dip in import of pulp triggered a shortage and jacked up prices.
"The price of kraft paper doubled since 2019. It increased by 25 to 30 per cent in the past one week alone. Mill owners said the price fluctuation is likely to continue till imports stablise. To protect the domestic industry, the Union government must ban export of kraft paper and ensure regular supply of waste paper to the industry," he said.
Karthick, a box manufacturer said "Adding fuel to the fire, the Union government has increased GST on Corrugated boxes from 12 per cent to 18 per cent while GST on paper remains at 12. This is placing a huge financial burden on the manufacturers. Either GST should be reverted or GST on both boxes and paper should be 15 per cent. Several units have shut down and many are on the verge of calling it curtains due to the irregular price hike."
Paper used in south India: 18 BF to 28 BF
Paper used in north India: up to 35BF
Cost of 1 kg of 18 BF paper: Rs 43
Disclaimer : We respect your thoughts and views! But we need to be judicious while moderating your comments. All the comments will be moderated by the newindianexpress.com editorial. Abstain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks. Try to avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines.
The views expressed in comments published on newindianexpress.com are those of the comment writers alone. They do not represent the views or opinions of newindianexpress.com or its staff, nor do they represent the views or opinions of The New Indian Express Group, or any entity of, or affiliated with, The New Indian Express Group. newindianexpress.com reserves the right to take any or all comments down at any time.
Delhi ACB searches AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan's house; Rs 12 lakh, unlicensed weapon seized
Not just climate change, Pakistan's overall vulnerability too worsened floods, study finds
Huge fire in 42-floor skyscraper housing China Telecom in Changsha city; no casulaties reported
ED seizes Rs 46 crore in HPZ app-based token fraud; EaseBuzz, Razorpay, Paytm under scanner
Ex-Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh to join the BJP on Monday
Sonali Phogat death: CBI team arrives in Goa for probe
The Morning Standard | Dinamani | Kannada Prabha | Samakalika Malayalam | Indulgexpress | Edex Live | Cinema Express | Event Xpress
Contact Us | About Us | Careers | Privacy Policy | Search | Terms of Use | Advertise With Us
Home | Nation | World | Cities | Business | Columns | Entertainment | Sport | Magazine | The Sunday Standard