Production and stock of jute products across the country have fallen in January 2008 by 5,000 tonnes compared with those in December 2007, according to the latest figures furnished by the Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA). This has raised the fears of an increase in imports and rise in prices during the coming months. While production has come down from 141,000 tonnes in December 2007 to 136,000 tonnes in January 2008, stocks have fallen by about 17,600 tonnes to 64,900 tonnes, ushering in problems for the domestic jute industry. Exports have also dwindled to a large extent coming down from 17,000 tonnes in December 2007 to 14,500 tonnes in January 2008. The biggest loss is on the hessian and sacking front, where exports have come down from 5,900 tonnes in December 2007 to 5,000 tonnes in January 2008. Sacking went down from 2,600 tonne to 1,300 tonne during the period. According to IJMA chairman Sanjay Kajaria, "Demand for domestic jute products in the country is increasingly falling because of imports. Duty-free cheaper jute materials from Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia and China are flooding the Indian market, eating into the domestic industry. We apprehend a 100 per cent increase in imports during the coming year.' The country imported around 55,000 tonnes of jute products in 2007. The raw jute position, however, remained stable despite imports from Bangladesh. The opening stock in January 2008 was 1.3 million bales (1 bale = 180 kgs) and the closing stock was 1.2 million bales. Consumption during January was 780,000 bales and deliveries were around 705,000 bales during the month. The only silverline, however, is the increase in local consumption from 137,000 tonnes in December 2007 to 139,000 tonnes in January 2008. According to IJMA, consumption during January-July 2008 is likely to go up to 792,000 tonnes from 703,000 a year ago, whereas exports may rise to 118,000 tonnes from 110,00 tonnes.