According to the latest data released by the Indian Ministry of Commerce, India's paper and paperboard imports have doubled in the past four years, reaching a record 2.05 million tons in fiscal year 2025, compared with only 1.08 million tons in fiscal year 2021. The surge in imports poses a major challenge to India's domestic paper industry, weakening its growth potential and threatening investment in capacity expansion.
The Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) is deeply concerned about the continued growth in paper and paperboard imports. In fiscal year 2025 alone, India's paper and paperboard imports from China increased by 33%. Currently, imports from China account for 27% of India's total paper and paperboard imports, followed by ASEAN imports, accounting for 20%. In terms of value, India's paper and paperboard imports in fiscal year 2025 were close to 150 billion Indian rupees.
In the four years since fiscal 2021, India's paper and paperboard imports have grown at a compound annual growth rate of more than 17%, the largest increase among major commodities. During this period, imports from China grew at a compound annual growth rate of more than 39%, and imports from ASEAN grew at a compound annual growth rate of more than 30%. Imports of coated paper and paperboard and uncoated writing and printing paper have more than doubled.
Pawan Agarwal, president of the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA), said: "The continued surge in paper imports is a serious problem for the domestic paper industry in India, which has invested heavily in capacity building and sustainable development plans. The influx of predatory imports, especially from countries such as China and Indonesia, is undermining the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers and leading to underutilization of capacity."
Mr. Pawan Agarwal added: “Besides the overall negative impact on the domestic paper industry, cheap imports have also led to the loss of commercial viability of most small and medium paper mills in India. According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), only 550 of the 850-900 paper mills in the country are still operational. This is a severe blow to the paper industry, which traditionally supports the livelihoods of a large number of rural and small-scale families.”
The Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) has been highlighting the structural imbalance caused by the surge in imports. IPMA called on the government to take urgent policy interventions to protect the domestic paper industry. "We urge the government to implement stricter quality control measures, review trade agreements that allow duty-free or low-tariff paper imports, take trade remedies and ensure a level playing field for the Indian paper industry."
Rohit Pandit, secretary general of the Indian Paper Association, said: "The domestic paper industry has a strong manufacturing base and is highly backward integrated with the agricultural sector, playing a vital role in India's circular economy and sustainable development goals. However, the unprecedented growth in imports may hinder this progress." He added: "Such a high import growth will not only jeopardize the domestic paper industry, but also affect jobs and rural livelihoods associated with the paper value chain."
