Wood cost to tear off writing and printing paper margin: Crisil report

Operating margin of writing and printing paper manufacturers is set to contract 400-500 basis points to 15-16 per cent this financial year -- following a similar correction last fiscal from the unusually high level of fiscal 2023 -- driven by costlier hardwood and softwood and softening realisations, according to Crisil Ratings.

- TBG NETWORK

Further, revenue is projected to decline 2-3 per cent this fiscal year-on-year -- after a price-led decrease of 6-7 per cent last fiscal -- largely reined in by subdued realisations.

Volume is expected to grow a tepid 2-4 per cent this fiscal owing to the continued shift towards digital communication, partly offset by the government's focus on expenditure in the education sector and increased work from office.