India's waste paper import rises 133% in April-September'18 period

Its price declines on high global availability, pulp moves up; newsprint and kraft paper mills may report improved profit margins

In a bid to cut cost of paper production, Indian paper mills imported 133 per cent more waste paper during the first half of the current financial year following a sharp increase in pulp prices.

Data compiled by the Union Ministry of Commerce showed India’s waste paper import at 3.5 million tonnes for the period between April and September 2018 compared to 1.5 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year. During the financial year 2017-18, India’s import of waste paper stood at 4 million tonnes as against 3.2 million tonnes in the previous year.

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