Overall paper demand to grow at 6-7%: IPMA

India has emerged as the fastest-growing paper market among large economies in the world. In the last 10 years, the domestic demand has almost doubled from around nine million tonnes in FY 2007-08 to over 17 million tonnes in 2017-18. The industry estimates the overall paper demand to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 6-7%, reaching to about 20 million tonnes by FY 2019-20.

22 Jan 2019 | By Rahul Kumar

During the AGM, AS Mehta, president, JK Paper, was elected president of IPMA and JP Narain, chief executive officer, Century Pulp & Paper, was elected as vice-president

The was stated by Saurabh Bangur, president, Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA), during the 19th annual session of Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA), held on 11 January 2019 at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi. The event was attended by more than 150 participants.

According to IPMA, Make in India in paper is threatened in view of comparatively higher cost of raw material, especially wood and cheaper imports which have been growing at a pace faster than growth in domestic production.

Even as the industry is grappling with the issue of producing paper and paperboard at competitive cost, the problem has been exacerbated by the government’s policy of extending preferential tariff treatment to import of paper and paperboard under the different free trade agreements (FTAs) and other bilateral and multilateral trade agreements and pacts.

“Paper is a key segment of Indian industry and government is committed to ensure domestic manufacturing. Government will consult the industry before embarking upon any further Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Domestic players need to get priority to meet the demand. One of the main objectives of the trade policy has to be promotion of domestic manufacturing,” Suresh Prabhu, minister of commerce and industry and civil aviation and chief guest on the occasion, said.

Prabhu also presented the IPMA Awards 2017-18. The JKPM, Rayagada unit of JK Paper won the IPMA Paper Mill of the Year Award. The IPMA Energy Conservation Award was given to Orient Paper Mills, Amlai, while ITC - PSPD, Bhadrachalam won the IPMA Environment Award.

Meanwhile, in the business session of the Annual General Meeting (AGM), AS Mehta, president, JK Paper, was elected president of IPMA and JP Narain, chief executive officer, Century Pulp & Paper, was elected as vice-president.