In a press release issued to media, OPA said, “It is seen that during past some time there is steep price hike in paper prices, moreover, the prices of ink, chemicals, lamination film and other raw material. Not only this, the minimum wages for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour has also been increased by the state government. Due to these facts it was becoming immensely difficult for the printers to withstand this increase as it was becoming impossible to commensurate the prices of finished goods. Taking all these aspects in mind the Offset Printers’ Association decided to instruct the members to increase their prices at least by 15% with effect from 1 February, 2013.”

Since the last quarter of 2012, leading paper manufacturers such as Ballarpur Industries, JK Paper and West Coast Paper Mills have succeeded in passing on the rise in input costs to consumers with series of hikes. It was earlier expected that post the Union Budget 2013-14, the players would bring in another rise depending on the change in the tax and levy rates.