India’s paper imports double in four years

Paper and paperboard imports into India have nearly doubled over the past four financial years, rising from 1.08-million tonnes in FY21 to 2.05-million tonnes in FY25, according to data from the Department of Commerce. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.3% in volume terms.

The Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) has raised concerns over the continued increase in imports, especially from China and ASEAN countries. In FY25 alone, imports from China rose by 33%, and now make up 27% of India's total paper and paperboard imports. ASEAN countries account for 20% of the total. In value terms, overall imports reached nearly INR 15,000-crore.

Pawan Agarwal, President of IPMA, stated, “The relentless surge in paper imports is a matter of grave concern for the domestic Paper Industry, which has invested substantially in capacity building and sustainability initiatives. The influx of predatory imports, especially from countries like China and Indonesia, has been eroding the competitiveness of the domestic manufacturers, leading to underutilisation of installed capacities.”

He added, “Apart from the overall negative impact of cheap imports on the domestic paper industry, it is making most small and medium paper mills in India commercially unviable. According to the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), out of over 850-900 paper mills in the country, only 550 are currently operational. This is a serious setback to the sector, which has traditionally supported a large number of rural and small-scale livelihoods.”

Over the past four years, imports of coated paper, paperboard, and uncoated writing and printing paper have more than doubled in volume. Imports from China have grown at a CAGR of over 39%, and those from ASEAN countries at over 30%.

IPMA has called for government intervention. “We urge the government to implement stricter quality control measures, review trade agreements that lead to duty-free or low-duty access for paper imports, undertake trade remedial measures, and ensure a level playing field for the Indian paper industry,” said Agarwal.

Rohit Pandit, secretary general of IPMA, added, “The domestic paper industry, which has a robust manufacturing base and significant backward integration with the farm sector, plays a vital role in India’s circular economy and sustainability goals. However, the unprecedented rise in imports threatens to derail this progress.”