IPMA urges 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.
May 30, 2025
The Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) has expressed deep concern over the continued rise in paper & paperboard imports, which in FY25 alone saw a 33 percent jump in volume from China.
As per the latest data released by the Department of Commerce, Government of India, paper & paperboard imports in India doubled over the past four years, reaching a record 2.05 million tonnes in FY25 compared to 1.08 million tonnes in FY21. Imports from China now accounted for 27 percent of the total paper & paperboard imports into India, with ASEAN not too far behind at 20 percent of the total imports. In value terms, imports of paper & paperboard touched nearly INR 15,000 crore in FY25.
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Mr. Pawan Agarwal, President IPMA, said the relentless surge in paper imports was a matter of grave concern for the domestic paper Industry, which had invested substantially in capacity building and sustainability initiatives. The influx of predatory imports, especially from countries like China and Indonesia, had been eroding the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers, leading to underutilisation of installed capacities.
Apart from the overall negative impact of cheap imports on the domestic paper industry, it was making most small and medium paper mills in India commercially unviable. Quoting the data from the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), Mr. Agarwal said out of over 850-900 paper mills in the country, only 550 were currently operational. This was a serious setback to the sector, which has traditionally supported a large number of rural and small-scale livelihoods, he added.
He urged 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.
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Mr. Rohit Pandit, Secretary General IPMA, said the domestic paper industry, which had a robust manufacturing base and significant backward integration with the farm sector, played a vital role in India’s circular economy and sustainability goals. However, the unprecedented rise in imports threatened to derail this progress. Such a high growth in imports not only jeopardised the domestic industry but also impacted employment generation and rural livelihoods linked to the paper value chain.
India’s Imports of Paper & Paperboard (DGCI&S)
| Year | Thousand Tonnes |
|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 1,084.7 |
| 2021-22 | 1,145.8 |
| 2022-23 | 1,436.5 |
| 2023-24 | 1,929.1 |
| 2024-25 | 2,055.3 |
| Growth over Last Year (% | 6.54 |
| 4 Year CAGR (%) | 17.33 |
Note: Data includes HS Codes 4802, 4803, 4804, 4805, 4808 & 4810
