Price hikes in apple packaging material in India

For the second year running, packaging materials for apples are set to rise significantly. The cost of cartons across various categories is likely to increase by up to 10 per cent, while the trays used inside the cartons are likely to get 25 to 30 per cent more expensive. At the same time, the cost of pesticides, fertilisers, labour and transport are also shooting up. Manufacturers are putting most of the blame for the hike on the increased GST rates (from 12 per cent to 18 per cent) on corrugated boxes and paper late last year.