Raw material crunch hits safety match industry

According to factory owners, there is a crippling shortage of key raw materials, including potassium chlorate, wooden splints and carton box, which has affected them.

At Kovilpatti, the biggest matchbox hub in the State, the production has been hit by about one-third, said M Paramasivam, president, National Small Match Manufacturers Association, Kovilpatti. Not only production, sale has also reduced by about 60 per cent during the lockdown period, he added.

The production units were finding it difficult to bring the required quantity of potassium chlorate from Puducherry, wooden splints from Kerala and carton box manufactured in Sivakasi. At Sivakasi, the priority has now been accorded to resume printing textbooks for government schools, and for other essential supplies including food and pharmaceutical products, he told DT Next.

There are about 300 manufacturing units in Kovilpatti and its surrounding areas. These units have begun production with raw materials that are in stock, employing only 50 per cent of the workforce as instructed by the government.

Though production was allowed to resume in districts including Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Vellore and Krishnagiri, it was not permitted in Dharmapuri, which has led to disappointment among the factory owners there, he said.

Terming it unfair that Dharmapuri alone was neglected, he said the district administration should consider the legitimate concerns of workers who rely on the industry for their livelihood, and allow production with necessary precautions in place. Paramasivam also thanked the State government for announcing a dole of Rs 1,000 to each of worker.

J Devadoss, secretary, South India Match Manufacturers Association, Kovilpatti, said with the existing workforce, the units in Kovilpatti would be able to meet the requirement of about 70 per cent consumers across India. Though the transportation of safety matches, classified as an essential commodity by government, has not been restricted, many truck operators were not coming forward, fearing COVID spread, he added.