Around 750 corrugated box manufacturers in the eastern region of the country have been affected by the increase in price of paper kraft and other raw materials.
The corrugated box industry comprises of micro and small entrepreneurs generating employment for nearly 35,000 families.
While natural calamities such as heavy snowfall abroad have already taken a toll on the production, paper and board prices too have increased around 30 per cent since December 2010.Cost of steel stitching wire has also gone up substantially.
Mr Bharat Kedia, President, Eastern India Corrugated Box Manufacturers' Association, has demanded reduction in customs duty on paper and board imports.