Weavers oppose anti-dumping duty on nylon yarn

Surat: While the central government has abolished anti-dumping duty purified terephthalic acid (PTA) – a key raw material for yarn production—the powerloom weavers are upset with the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) which is in the process of imposing anti-dumping duty on the nylon filament yarn.

The DGTR has issued a disclosure statement on the anti-dumping investigation on the import of nylon filament yarn originating from China, Korea, Tiawan and Thailand and invited objections from the concerned parties for fixing the duty.

Industry sources said that the nylon yarn consumption per annum is pegged at 1.50 lakh tonnes and that it is mostly used in the wrap and knitting of the fabrics. The imposition of anti-dumping duty on nylon yarn will allow the yarn spinners to hike the yarn prices in the domestic market.

China and other countries are manufacturing new yarns to meet growing demand of the consumers. Imposing anti-dumping duty on such yarns keeps the powerloom weavers away from getting quality yarn, which ultimately leads to increased import of fabrics and garments in India, stated the weavers.

Leader of the powerloom industry, Mayur Golwala said, “The anti-dumping duty on nylon yarn will not give any direct benefit to the weavers, who were expecting the prices of yarn to come down by Rs 8 per kilogram.”

“We have convened a meeting of weavers on Saturday to decide on the further course of action,” he added.

Chairman of Federation of Indian Art Silk Weaving Industry (FIASWI), Bharat Gandhi said, “For few yarn spinners, government cannot disturb the weaving sector employing lakhs of workers. We have filed our objections in the DGTR and expect that the duty is not imposed on nylon yarn.”