Though unnoticed, plastic furniture market is thriving in Bihar. The state produces more than four lakh units of plastic furniture per day, including chairs, centre tables and dining tables.

Industry experts said each mould used in manufacturing plastic furniture costs around Rs 25 lakh. China, Nigeria, America and Germany are the major suppliers of moulds in the world. Made of special steel, these moulds can produce 3-5 lakh furniture.

Buyers said they prefer plastic furniture for its traits like lightweight, low maintenance, comparatively low cost and easy transportation.

People in the trade say despite producing more than 4 lakh units of plastic furniture per day and importing the product from other countries, it becomes tough to meet the demand in the state. "This sector has become more challenging with the entry of new entrants. Today, there are more than 15 big plastic industries in the state which make a major supply to the local market," they said.

"The plastic furniture market has grown exponentially in the state since its inception in 2000. The wide range of plastic furniture with varied price range has flooded the market," said Bihar Industries Association (BIA) president Ram Lall Khetan, who helms many plastic industries in the state.

The price of plastic furniture produced in Bihar goes up by at least 25% before reaching the buyers. Manufacturing a chair and table roughly costs Rs 150 and Rs 600, respectively. In retail market, the prices shoot up to at least Rs 250 for a chair and Rs 800 for a table. The price variation moves in proportion to the quality of product.

On dealers and suppliers of plastic furniture evading taxes, the BIA boss said, "The business is in a poor shape as most of the dealers are unregistered. If border check posts in the state work more effectively, the state government will earn more revenue."

(Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com)