Ludhiana, March 26 -- Citing an unprecedented surge in raw material costs and mounting global pressures, the Offset Printers Association (OPA) has announced an immediate revision in printing and packaging service prices, warning that the industry is on the verge of becoming unsustainable.

Industry leaders said the crisis has been aggravated by geopolitical tensions in West Asia, which have disrupted supply chains and driven up the cost of key inputs such as imported wastepaper, coal, chemicals and energy. These factors, coupled with domestic price hikes, have significantly increased operational costs for printing and packaging units.

According to industry estimates, finished paper prices have risen by Rs.2 to 6 per kg in recent weeks, w...