Printers seek import duty waiver on paper

The All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP) has asked the government to waive import duty on paper and paper board to tackle their rising prices and improve their availability in the domestic market.

Paper prices have risen 20-25 per cent in the last 15 months, which is around four times the current inflation rate.

An import duty of about 30 per cent has made it impossible for printers to procure paper at a reasonable cost.

"Paper mills are resorting to 27 per cent higher operating profit and aim to encash upon the demand-supply gap. Unprecedented price rise is threatening our existence," said Manoj Bhai Mehta, president of the AIFMP. There is a gap of 31 per cent in demand and supply in the paper industry.

He urged the paper industry to roll back price increase and pass the benefits of excise duty reduction to consumers.

"The government is requested to prohibit export of paper and newsprint and let only the export of value-added products that bring in forex till the supply-demand gap exists," said Satish Malhotra, former president of the AIFMP.

He also asked the government to maintain a buffer stock of paper to check any unprecedented rise in rates. "We suggest a buffer stock of about 10,000 tonnes be maintained," he added.

The federation has also urged the government to extend the Credit-Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) during the Eleventh Plan period to upgrade technology of small-scale industries.

The federation said the programme, which ended on March 31, should be extended because printers were offered the scheme only last December, leaving them with a short time to take advantage of it.