MSME-dominated plastic industry’s exports to cross USD 8 billion in FY18

Indian plastic industry, dominated by MSME sector particularly the SSI, urgently require government’s support in the form of technology upgradation […]

   

Indian plastic industry, dominated by MSME sector particularly the SSI, urgently require government’s support in the form of technology upgradation fund scheme (TUFS) in order to replace their obsolete machineries.Due to the fragmented nature of the plastics industry, slower adaptation to newer technologies, and other restraining factors, the industry has not been able to increase its share in the global export market for plastics, plastics export promotion council (PLEXCONCIL) chairman Pradip Thakkar said on Sunday. However, the PLEXCONCIL is confident that India’s plastics exports will cross USD 8 billion mark due to the positive growth trend. “The current trend in India’s plastic exports seems highly encouraging and we are confident of crossing plastics exports to cross USD 8 billion mark in FY18 showing a 6 per cent increase from USD 7.56 billion in FY17. India’s plastic exports to United States, the largest destination, continues to tread higher and nearing the coveted USD 1 billion mark,” Thakkar told reporters in Mumbai. During the first half of FY18, cumulative value of India’s plastics exports witnessed a positive growth of around 9.5 per cent amounting to USD 3.49 billion as against USD 3.19 billion during the same period of last year. “We are working with the government on a strategy in order to increase the country’s plastic exports as the global export market for plastics of USD 800 billion presents a huge opportunity. “The council has taken up all important issues post the GST-era, with the concerned ministry for remedial action in terms of fast tracking of IGST refunds; exemption of merchant exporters from GST on procurement against bond, clear procedure for third party exports under the GST regime; using of chapter 3 incentive scheme scrips and advance authorisation for debit of full import duty and restoring of export benefits to export oriented units,” Thakkar said. During September 2017, India exported plastics worth USD 630.93 million, up 17.3 per cent from USD 538.01 million in September 2016. The country exported plastics to 185 countries in September 2017. The United States, China and Italy were the top three buyers of plastics from India. To increase its global footprint, the industry has added countries like Sao Tom , Belize, Samoa, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, South Sudan, Micronesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Grenada. Plastics exports to these countries were valued at USD 0.18 million in September 2017. The country’s plastics industry also offers immense potential in terms of capacity, infrastructure and skilled manpower. India is currently ranked among the top five consumers of polymers in the world and has 30,000 plus plastic processing units employing over four million people across the country. Plastics are among the fastest-growing industries in the country experiencing a double digit growth rate on an average.(With PTI Inputs)

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