PH paper makers cry foul over influx of imports

A local trade association of paper product manufacturers is set to file an appeal to the government to regulate imports of two major paper products, saying that the huge influx of these goods was hurting the local industry.

The Pulp and Paper Manufacturers Association of the Phils. will seek safeguards or antidumping measures for containerboards corrugating medium and testliner, materials that are typically used in packaging products.

In their letter dated Feb. 20 that was sent to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the group said the importation of these products at “undervalued prices started in late 2022, worsened in 2023, is persisting as of January 2024, and expected to continue beyond 2024.”

“This had adversely affected our 22 local paper producers, forcing paper mills to resort to unscheduled shutdowns and reduced the industry capacity utilization from 73 percent in 2022 down to 65 percent in 2023,”the group added.

These in turn threaten the viability of local mills, especially those who recently made large investments in machinery and equipment to expand their capacity. INQ