India Sourcing: Paper crafts 2017

In India Sourcing: Paper crafts 2017, buyers can find:
Verified exporters – 15 featured suppliers offering various paper crafts
Products – Full-color images with specifications & prices
Supply market intelligence – Supply centers, industry trends, challenges, production and pricing
Export data – India-wide details and survey results from featured exporters
To read the full report, click on the section tabs below.
India Sourcing: Paper crafts 2017 Sector highlights
Industry overview | Product features | Supplier survey |
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India Sourcing: Paper crafts 2017 Suppliers & products

India Sourcing: Paper crafts 2017
• Home Decor • Stationery • Packaging
Our team has visited all India manufacturers featured here to verify their export capability. Each has a website on GlobalSources.com with full company details, product images with specifications, manufacturing capability and complete contact details.
Click suppliers’ names below to view their full profiles and product offerings on GlobalSources.com.
Sections
Products
Below is a selection of products from our featured suppliers. Click on the images to find more products and supplier information.
For a complete listing of the featured suppliers, click here.
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India Sourcing: Paper crafts 2017 Industry overview

India Sourcing: Paper crafts 2017
• Home Decor • Stationery • Packaging
This section discusses key issues affecting export manufacturers in India, offering insight into industry composition and important supply centers.
India paper craft exports | Competitive advantages | Challenges | Industry composition |
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Paper crafts are not tracked independently by customs, but interviewed suppliers estimate that it accounts for 20 to 25 percent of paper products exported from India.
In 2016, India sent abroad approximately $226.9 million worth of paper products under HS codes 4817 and 4819, according to data from the DESA/UNSD, United Nations Comtrade database. The value represents an increase of about 9 percent from 2015 exports, which amounted to more than $208.5 million.
Shipments of office books, forms, exercise books, folders, binders and products under HS code 4820 contributed $131.8 million, or 58 percent of the 2016 export value. The US was the largest importer in this category, with exports to the market amounting to $46.4 million. The UK was another key market, accounting for $25.4 million.
Cartons, boxes, bags and other packing containers, and office items such as box files and letter trays exported under HS code 4819 accounted for $88.6 million, or 39 percent of overseas sales. The UAE and the US were the top markets, with shipments to these areas amounting to about $10.0 million and $8.7 million, respectively.
Exports of notebooks, memo pads, diaries and office books sent overseas under HS code 4817 exceeded $6.4 million. The UK was the top destination, accounting for nearly $2.4 million of the export value. Thailand ranked second, with exports to the market amounting to about $1.7 million.
Competitive advantages
Handmade paper production does not require as large an investment as that required for paper mills. Additionally, makers of handmade paper do not need to spend as much for equipment maintenance.
The large number of working-age people in India is also a key advantage, making labor-related expenses relatively lower than those of China counterparts. In 2015, India had 860 million workers, according to the 2016 Regional Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In 20150, the number of those aged 15 to 64 is expected to exceed 1 billion.
Widespread adoption of online marketing is another advantage of the industry. Many companies, even those operating on a small scale, have their own websites and use B2C and B2B platforms to connect with buyers. This has led to a production increase of up to 20 percent, according to an interviewed supplier.
Additionally, the government has initiatives aimed at growing the paper industry. The sector belongs to the 35 high-priority industries of India and receives subsidy from the government.
The Khadi and Village Industries Commission under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises provides financial assistance to new entrepreneurs in the paper-making business. It also conducts buyer-seller meets and training seminars.
Challenges
While paper product exports increased in 2016, the industry is confronted by challenges such as rising limited supply of materials, rising material costs, finding new markets and price competition.
Paper craft makers use materials made of pulp from wood, recycled paper, and residues from the agriculture industry for its pulp needs. The domestic supply paper is currently unable to meet demand since the raw materials required for its production is limited. Paper suppliers using recycled wastepaper, for instance, use imports.
Due to the limited supply, suppliers of paper and related products are faced with high raw material costs. Imports of recycled wastepaper has risen in the past 12 months due to a supply shortage. Prices of domestically sourced cotton waste, which are recycled into paper, are also expected to increase with the recently imposed Goods and Services Tax.
To reduce costs, a number of paper craft suppliers import their material requirements from ASEAN member countries, as these are generally cheaper.
To secure raw material resources for the paper industry, Saurabh Bangur of the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association is proposing that the government allocates forest land for pulp wood plantations, The Hindu Business Line reported Aug. 12, 2017.
Amid high raw material costs, India makers are at a disadvantage compared to many paper-making countries in Asia. Competition in the local and international market is tough since many suppliers offer the similar designs.
Industry composition
India has more than 3,000 handmade paper units, including suppliers of papier mache and related products. The industry consists mostly of small and midsize operations.
Paper craft suppliers operating on a small scale have no more than 15 employees and can produce up to 2,000 pieces monthly. Their annual sales do not exceed $12,600.
Midsize suppliers can employ up to 80 workers and are capable of producing a maximum of 5,000 pieces per month. These companies generate up to $29,000 in sales each year.
Manufacturers with 150 employees can produce more than 15,000 pieces each month. The annual sales of these companies can exceed $78,000.
The states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are among the major production hubs for paper crafts.
Supplier location map
The highlighted areas on the map show the locations of the head offices and factories of the paper craft suppliers featured in this report.
India Sourcing: Paper crafts 2017 Product features

India Sourcing: Paper crafts 2017
• Home Decor • Stationery • Packaging
This section offers information on how trends in materials, design and manufacturing are impacting prices offered by India paper craft suppliers.
Buyers can also learn more about the materials used and the common price ranges of certain designs.
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Materials & designs | Manufacturing & QC | Pricing |
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Materials & designs
Paper crafts from India include holiday decor and home furnishings such as lanterns, lampshades, vases, photo frames and storage solutions. The industry also offers notebooks, greeting cards and other types of stationery, as well as gift bags and boxes.
Suppliers typically use manufacturing inputs found within the country. Besides wood pulp, sustainable inputs such as bamboo and banana leaf fibers are among the materials used to make paper. Agro-residue fibers, and recycled newspaper and textiles are also adopted.
Raw materials for papers are typically sourced from New Delhi, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, according to the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association and interviewed suppliers.
In terms of design, paper crafts from India often feature colorful traditional patterns or detailed artwork depicting Indian culture. Paisley and elephant motifs are popular.
Manufacturing & QC
Paper production in India is semi-mechanized.The steps, from material preparation to packaging of the final product, are mostly done in-house.
Production begins with converting the fibers into mush using pulping machines. The pulp is placed on top of a mold and deckle, which is a flat screen with a removable wooden frame. While immersed in water to make the material easy to work with, the pulp is spread evenly across the screen. The frame is then removed, and the sheet is transferred to a dry surface, pressed with a cloth and hung on a clothesline to dry.
Once the sheets are dry, these are sorted, trimmed, coated and crafted into various products for packaging, home decor and stationery.
Most companies have two employees focused on quality management. Many companies follow the AQL standard, which entails minimum acceptable number of defect products. Finished items are checked against client specifications and market requirements.
Pricing
Paper craft prices are determined by product size, material and design. Models using handmade paper with multiple colors and details tend to have a higher price than plain items.
Paper lanterns with simple designs and less than 14in height are available for less than $2. The selection between $2 and $4 includes multicolor models that areat least 14in tall. Higher up the price ladder are versions that can go up to 33in and feature more intricate designs.
Greeting cards made of photo paper with flower pressings are sold for less than $0.50. More colorful versions made with handmade paper and patterns are priced higher.
Gift wrapping paper with minimal or plain designs are available for less than $2 per 55x75cm sheet. Pieces offered above this quote feature handprinted nature-inspired patterns, typically using mulberry paper.
Models exceeding $6 are typically made with handmade paper with multicolor, handprinted patterns. Designs with patterns on both sides are also offered in this price range.
Price guide
Price guide: Packaging |
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Less than $2 Handmade origami paper; two colors; handprinted pattern |
$2 to $6 Handmade mulberry paper; multiple colors; handprinted pattern |
More than $6 Handmade paper from plant-based fibers or cotton rags; multiple colors; handprinted pattern |
Price guide: Home decor |
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Less than $2 Round or rectangular; cotton paper; less than 14in in height; plain; with patterned holes, tassels or stitched embellishments; single color |
$2 to $5 Round, rectangular or star-shaped; kraft paper; up to 14in in height; with patterned holes, polka dots, mosaic; nature-inspired embellishments; up to two colors |
More than $5 Round, rectangular or star-shaped; woven paper; up to 33in in height; with mosaic or simple pattern; multiple colors |
India Sourcing: Paper crafts 2017 Supplier survey

India Sourcing: Paper crafts 2017
• Home Decor • Stationery • Packaging
To give buyers first-hand information from active paper craft exporters in India, we’ve surveyed the manufacturers featured on this site.
Export prices | Export markets & sales | Product trends | Challenges |
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Export prices
Prices are expected to increase but most makers will be keeping increases to a minimum. In our survey, 57 percent of the 14 respondents intend to raise quotes to cover higher raw material costs. The rest will be keeping prices at current levels to stay competitive.
Cotton waste, currently sold at 43,500 rupees (about $668) per candy, is projected to become 2.5 to 3.5 percent more expensive in the next six months due to the recently imposed 5 percent GST. The cost of waste paper, which is recycled to make paper for various crafts, is also expected to rise.
Among the companies intending to raise price, 62 percent intend to cap increases at 5 percent, while 38 percent plan to keep adjustments within 6 to 10 percent.
Export markets & sales
India paper craft makers are optimistic export sales will rise in the next 12 months. Of the surveyed suppliers, 43 percent are anticipating increases of up to 10 percent, while 21 percent are expecting to see growth of 11 to 20 percent. Twenty-nine percent are projecting revenue from exports to go up more than 20 percent.
Suppliers are expecting orders to increase in the next few months because of the upcoming holidays, which is expected to boost demand for paper holiday decorations. Many companies are also anticipating that their increased presence online and trade show participation will generate additional sales.
Of the respondents, 57 percent indicated that North America will be their most important target market in the next 12 months. Thirty percent will be strengthening their foothold in the EU, and the rest will be targeting the Asia-Pacific region or the Middle East.
Product trends
The selection of paper crafts from India is expected to become more diverse in coming months.
Among surveyed companies, 57 percent will incorporate more decorative elements such as tassels, small pebbles and intricate cutouts in their products. Anticipating a boost in demand for paper decorations for the upcoming holidays, many of these suppliers intend to produce festive and intricate designs.
For 22 percent of the respondents, the focus will be on creating more environment-friendly products. Amid the growing number of eco-conscious buyers, these companies will expand the selections of products made from recycled newspapers and fabrics. Producers offering paper lanterns are eyeing the use of LED bulbs instead of filament bulbs.
The remaining respondents plan to focus on basic and simple designs since their existing customers prefer these.
Challenges
Survey results indicate that the main challenges facing India’s bag and wallet suppliers are the following: finding new export markets, price competition and rising material costs.
For 43 percent of respondents, finding new markets is the primary challenge in coming months. Some companies have only started last year and are still looking for potential buyers abroad. For others, penetrating new markets means complying with new requirements, which involves time and money.
Twenty-nine percent consider intense price competition a major roadblock to growth. According to interviewed companies, since most suppliers offer the same designs, they tend to compete based on price.
For some enterprises, higher material costs are the main threat to growing their businesses. The cost of virgin cotton fiber is expected to rise due to the recently imposed GST. Producers using recycled cotton fabrics, meanwhile, find it difficult to source the material since many textile companies combine cotton with synthetic fibers, which are harder to process.
India Sourcing: Paper crafts 2017 PDF download
Click on the download button to get a PDF copy of the full report, which contains the following:
Supplier & products
Sections
- Products
- India paper craft suppliers
Industry overview
Sections
- Highlights
- Competitive advantages
- Challenges
- Industry composition
- India paper craft suppliers
Chart
- Paper crafts exports
- Supplier locations map
Product features
Sections
- Highlights
- Materials & designs
- Manufacturing & QC
- Pricing
- Price guide
- India paper craft suppliers
Supplier survey
Sections
- Highlights
- Export prices
- Export markets & sales
- Product trends
- Challenges
- India paper craft suppliers
Chart
- Export prices
- Export forecasts
- Key findings
India Sourcing: Paper crafts 2017 Supplier list
India paper craft suppliers
Click company names below marked Active to view verified suppliers and products featured on GlobalSources.com.
Suppliers featured on![]() | Supplier status | Home decor | Stationery | Packaging |
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Alliance Exim | Active | ✓ | ||
Ashrafi International | Active | ✓ | ✓ | |
Crafting Gifts | Active | ✓ | ||
Gandhi Paper Crafts | Active | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Harivrund Paper Crafts & Arts | Active | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Kalpana Handmade Paper Industries | Active | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Karakhil Creations | Active | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Lamps of India | Active | ✓ | ||
Lotus Handicrafts | Active | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
MS Handmade Paper Works | Active | ✓ | ||
Paper Theatre | Active | ✓ | ||
Paper Trail India | Active | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
U.K. Exim | Active | ✓ | ||
Utsav Cards | Active | ✓ | ✓ | |
Waste Craft | Active |