Surat: The Nylon Spinners Association recently met with the Textile Minister and Textile Secretary, proposing the imposition of anti-dumping duties and BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) regulations on imported nylon filament yarn from China. This proposal has caused an uproar among weavers, as a sudden price hike of ₹5 per kilogram of yarn has severely impacted the margins of thousands of weavers. With the festive season, including Diwali, around the corner, weavers fear that this move could significantly affect their businesses, prompting them to register their protests.
Focus Should Be on Quality Yarn Availability, Not Import Restrictions: Ashok Jirawala
Ashok Jirawala, President of the Federation of Gujarat Weavers Association (FOGWA), emphasized that instead of demanding anti-dumping duties and BIS implementation on imported yarn, efforts should be made to ensure the availability of quality yarn locally. He questioned, “Why would weavers import yarn if they can access high-quality yarn domestically?” Jirawala pointed out that the imported yarn is used to produce fabrics in demand in international markets. He also mentioned that while there is no official confirmation regarding the association’s demand for anti-dumping duties, such a request is unreasonable and could severely damage the nylon-based weaving industry. The result, he warned, could be the closure of many units, leading to job losses for thousands of artisans.
Jirawala further argued that focusing on the quality of locally produced yarn is crucial, as import restrictions without addressing quality concerns would be counterproductive. He also clarified that BIS standards are already applied to imported yarn from China, and controlling imports could harm the textile and weaving industry, which depends on over 30-40 types of yarns that are not manufactured locally.
Export Markets Will Suffer Due to High Yarn Costs: Ashok Singhal
Ashok Singhal, a fabric trader in the knitting industry, expressed concern about the consequences of implementing anti-dumping duties. He stated that higher yarn prices would result in increased costs for finished fabrics, ultimately passing the burden onto consumers. He further warned that higher production costs would make it impossible for local businesses to compete in export markets. “This decision is akin to shooting ourselves in the foot,” Singhal remarked, emphasizing that businesses can only survive both locally and globally if they offer quality products at competitive prices.
Government Must Address Global Challenges for Industries: Vinay Agarwal
Vinay Agarwal, a prominent yarn trader and leader of the Nylon Spinners Association, told *Loktej* that while the government provides various incentives to support industries, it is also responsible for addressing global challenges that affect the smooth functioning of these industries. He pointed out that large quantities of yarn are already available in nylon spinning mills, questioning the need for imports. Addressing the claims by weavers about the lack of quality in local yarn, Agarwal dismissed them as baseless. He invited users to provide feedback, assuring that any necessary improvements in quality would be made by the spinners. Agarwal stressed the collective goal of becoming self-reliant and establishing a presence in the global market, urging all stakeholders to work together toward this aim.
The ongoing debate highlights the tensions between spinners seeking protection through duties and weavers dependent on affordable, high-quality yarn for their survival and competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.
