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IPMA: India’s Paper & Paperboard Exports Surges by 80 Percent, Outshines Imports in FY22 The exports from India have been looking up in the last five years. In volume terms, paper exports from India have gone up four times from 0.66 million tonnes in FY17 to 2.85 million tonnes in FY22. Similarly, in value terms, the figures for corresponding years are INR 3,041 crore to INR 13,963 crore. June 16, 2022
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he exports of paper, paperboard, and newsprint grades from India have grown by nearly 80 percent to touch the highest-ever figure of INR 13,963 crore in FY 2021-22, according to the recent information shared by IPMA, citing the data released by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics (DGCI&S). Meanwhile, these exports of FY 2021-22 have also surpassed the exports achieved in the FY 2020-21. In value terms, the exports of coated paper & paperboard increased by 100 percent, uncoated writing & printing paper by 98 percent, tissue paper by 75 percent, and kraft paper by 37 percent. The exports from India have been looking up in the last five years. In volume terms, paper exports from India have gone up four times from 0.66 million tonnes in FY17 to 2.85 million tonnes in FY22. Similarly, in value terms, the figures for corresponding years are INR 3,041 crore to INR 13,963 crore. Exports have been rising since 2017-18 due to capacity expansion and technological upgradations undertaken by Indian paper mills, leading to better product quality which has found wider acceptance globally, said Mr. Rohit Pandit, Secretary-General, Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA). In the last five to seven years, paper mills in India, especially the organised sector, have invested an amount of over INR 25,000 crore in new efficient capacities and induction of clean and green technologies. Domestic paper companies, in recent years, have also intensified their marketing efforts globally and invested in market development in foreign countries, added Mr. Pandit. In the last two financial years, India has become a net exporter of paper in volume terms. UAE, China, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka are the leading export destinations of Indian manufactured paper. In the year ended March 31, 2022, the entire exports of the paper and paper products stood at 2856.7 thousand tonnes,
Image Source: IPMA
while the imports of these products were 1751.5 thousand tonnes. In the previous years, the imports of paper and paperboard products used to be significantly greater than their exports in the domestic paper industry. However, for the previous fiscal – FY 20-21, and FY 21-22, the trend has reversed – with the exports taking the upper hand as against the imports of the paper, paperboard, and newsprint grades of paper. Overall, the exports have been sharply increasing over the years. As informed by IPMA, “For the second year in a row, India’s exports of paper, paperboard & newsprint have outstripped imports, in volume terms, in 2021-22.” The paper and paperboard products that are included in the data of exports were – newsprint (in rolls or sheets); uncoated paper and paperboard; toilet or facial tissue stock, towel or napkin stock and similar paper; uncoated kraft paper and paperboard; other paper and paperboard; corrugated paper and paperboard; and paper and paperboard – coated on one or both sides with kaolin.
www.papermart.in / April-May, 2022 | 103
