Aurangabad, March 16:
The price of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, a key raw material in making pipes, continues to head northward. The price has almost doubled compared to last year. This has pushed the prices of PVC pipes up by 70 per cent. The record increase is likely to have far-reaching effects on the agricultural and industrial sector.
PVC pipes are mainly used for plumbing, drip irrigation, sprinklers, water conservation projects and industrial use. Giving more information, pipe manufacturer Lalit Agrawal said, The raw material used in the production of PVC pipes is manufactured in foreign countries. India imports the powder from around 200 countries, mainly the US and China. These overseas industries closed down after the CoVid-19. This affected the pipe industry. Imports were also cut off, leading to a severe shortage of PVC resin. Some local industries were also supplying the powder across the country. However, they started exporting the powder abroad as prices rose in international markets. As a result, the price of PVC pipes increased dramatically. The cost of pipes for drip irrigation has gone up by 70 per cent. This is reducing the area under drip irrigation.Experts say the central government needs to intervene.
PVC pipe prices have been rising steadily over the past year. At present, the rates are beyond the reach of ordinary farmers. This situation is due to a shortage of raw material required for pipe manufacturing and increased transportation rates, wages. This has led to the closure of many pipe manufacturing industries. Only if the government takes steps in this regard will the farmers get relief from the price hike, said Lalit Agrawal, a pipe manufacturer
Increase in pipe rates:
2019
63 mm : Rs 220
90 mm : Rs 420
110 mm : Rs 700
2021
63 mm : Rs 420
90 mm : Rs 920
110 mm : Rs1240