AS Mehta, President and Director of JK Paper, on Thursday, said that office paper consumption this quarter is better than in pre-COVID-19 times.

The paper manufacturing company reported earnings for the September-ended quarter. The company witnessed a decline in margin despite the quarter seeing a strong recovery as schools, colleges and offices re-opened post easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

“Office paper consumption, in this quarter, has been more or less better than the pre-COVID-19 level. Quoted paper demand is very good; in fact, 100 percent capacity is sold for quoted paper. Food grade, FMCG, pharma – all these sectors are doing well, packaging board is also doing well. So demand wise, this quarter is a much better quarter,” Mehta said in an interview to CNBC-TV18.

Also Read: JK Paper says paper demand robust, expects FY22 revenue over Rs 3000 crore

On pulp prices, he said, “Pulp prices do not impact too much as far as JK Paper is concerned because we are an integrated player, we produce our own pulp; only some quantity of pulp we buy.”

However, said Mehta, the company imports specific pulp for packaging board and it’s around 4,000 tonnes a month.

For the entire management interview, watch the video

(Edited by : Thomas Abraham)