Citing the report, the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) said the export growth has straddled across different grades of paper. According to IPMA sources, in value terms, exports of coated paper and paperboard increased by 100%, uncoated writing and printing paper by 98%, tissue paper by 75% and kraft paper by 37%.

Paper exports from India have been on an uptrend for the last five years. The country exports papers to UAE, China, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

“In volume terms, paper exports from India have gone up four times from 0.66 million tonnes in 2016-17 to 2.85 million tonnes in 2021-22. Similarly in value terms, the figures for corresponding years rose from Rs 3,041-crore to Rs 13,963-crore,” Rohit Pandit, secretary general, IPMA, said.

He added, “Exports have been rising in the last few years due to capacity expansion and technological upgradation undertaken by Indian paper mills, leading to better product quality which has found wider acceptance globally.”

In the last five to seven years, paper mills in India have invested over Rs 25,000-crore to create new capacities and induction of clean and green technologies.

Pandit said the domestic paper companies, in recent years, have also intensified their marketing efforts globally and invested in market development in foreign countries.

In the last two financial years, India has become a net exporter of paper in volume terms.