Addressing the forum, a representative of AIFMP said, “Keeping in mind the existing market conditions where the buyers are extremely price sensitive and competition is stiff, the volatility in half of the input production cost (paper) with continuous escalation in price makes it almost impossible to even make minimum profit or in some cases to break even.”

DGAD was also informed that Indian paper manufacturers have increased their prices up to 26% in last few months.

Contesting the representation by AIFMP, IPMA stressed that they want anti-dumping duty on import of paper in India for “the growth of the Indian paper industry".

According to IPMA, Europe and America used to be main market for countries like China and Korea to sell their paper but with both ‘erecting tax walls’ on the import of paper, most of the paper manufacturers have turned their focus on the Indian market because there is no levy of duty on paper import because of several agreements between the Government of India with a number of ASEAN countries.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a paper importer said, “Ever since the two giants reduced their paper production, BILT because of its skewed investment decisions and TNPL because of the water shortage and drought-like situation in Tamil Nadu, the Indian manufacturers are not producing adequate paper to fulfil the demand of the market. Therefore, there is no harm in import of paper.”

BILT, TNPL, JK Paper and West Coast Mill are the leading names that IPMA is representing in this case while AIFMP is trying to protect the interests of several hundred printers.

IPMA, AIFMP, paper importers, paper manufacturers from Thailand, Malaysia and other countries along with their legal counsels were present at the hearing.

DGAD listened to all the parties who had approached the authority and have requested all parties submit written applications by 3 April 2018, following which a decision is expected to be made.