Matchbox manufacturing units across Tamil Nadu will remain closed from April 12 to 25 following a decision by producers citing a sharp rise in raw material costs, a move expected to impact nearly five lakh workers.
Match production is concentrated in regions such as Kovilpatti, Sankarankovil, Thiruvengadam, Sattur, Sivakasi, Gudiyatham and Kaveripattinam. The sector comprises around 50 fully automated units, 320 semi-automated factories and over 2,000 packing units, employing a large workforce, of which nearly 90 per cent are women.
Industry representatives said the prices of essential raw materials including phosphorus, chloride, wax, cardboard and paper have surged steeply in recent weeks. Supply disruptions linked to the West Asian conflict have particularly affected the availability of wax, cardboard and polythene materials, earlier sourced from Iran.
Manufacturers also alleged that domestic suppliers have increased prices significantly citing the crisis. The price of wax has nearly doubled from Rs. 80 to Rs. 150 per kg, while polythene bag prices have risen sharply by Rs. 60 to Rs. 100 per kg depending on the type. Similar hikes have been reported in other inputs, pushing up overall production costs.
M. Paramasivam, president of the National Small Match Manufacturers Association, said the industry has been left with no option but to suspend operations temporarily, warning that the shutdown will directly and indirectly affect lakhs of workers across the State.
