As per the reports from wood panel markets across the country, the supply of plywood from Nepal has picked up owing to the addition in the number of BIS license holders that are established in Nepal. A few months back, the imported plywood from Nepal and other countries was slackened due to non compliance of QCO and pending BIS applications/ licences by overseas suppliers which restricted the entry of non compliant material into India.
Nepal has been the exporter of commercial plywood by some trade data sources, with the majority of exports directed to India. The influx of affordable Nepali plywood, which can be priced lower than comparable Indianmade products, has earlier also impacted the domestic Indian manufacturers, particularly in states bordering Nepal, such as Uttar Pradesh, and in Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
Nepalese plywood is available at a more affordable price, making it an attractive alternative to costlier Indian brands.
As far as Raw Material Availability is concerned, domestic plywood makers are also ramping up the production as well to check Nepal’s abundant local sources of specific timber, which is used for core veneers, allowing manufacturers to run at or near full capacity.
Although, domestic self-sufficiency in timber is still a far cry as the Indian wood panel industry needs to take up the task of plantation sincerely for a long time.