Pathanamthitta: Demand for old newspapers, which used to fetch barely Rs 5 per kg, has tripled. 30-33 per kg. The plastic ban in the state, Russia-Ukraine conflict globally and Sri Lankan internal issues have raised the demand for old newspapers.
Globally, there is a huge shortage of paper. The prices that households were getting before covid was Rs 10-13, but now due to the global problems, it has gone up. Meanwhile, the report of the Director General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics also revealed that the export of paper from the country has reached an all-time record of Rs 13,963 crore.
45 percent of newsprint to India was imported from Russia. Companies in other countries have widely canceled contracts with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Following global sanctions, shipping companies and ports boycotted Russian products, and the domestic market faced a shortage of paper. Sri Lanka’s internal problems have severely affected freight traffic. Most of the ports are closed and the containers that came with the newsprints are stuck.
Meanwhile, China’s paper and pulp imports have been on the rise. India’s paper exports have also gone up with huge demand for carton boxes in the e-commerce sector. China is also getting huge contracts for carton boxes from companies in various countries.
About 90 percent of India’s paper exports go to China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and UAE. The Indian Paper Manufacturers Association indicates that the price of old newsprint will continue to rise as the demand for paper, kraft paper and carton box increases globally.
