Bottled water prices could rise soon: Here's why
Thanks to the Iran conflict and shipping disruptions, making bottled water in India just got pricier.
Small brands have already hiked reseller prices by ₹1 per bottle (about 5%), and with summer demand rising, another 10% jump could be around the corner.
Manufacturers are feeling the heat
Packaging is the culprit: plastic for bottles now costs 50% more, caps have doubled in price, and essentials like boxes and labels are up by 20% to 30%.
So it's costing manufacturers about 31.8% more to produce even a tiny 200-milliliter bottle.
Price hikes expected soon
Industry groups warned the price hikes could hit store shelves within 4-5 days.
Some brands like Aava have already raised prices by up to 18%, while bigger names are holding off (for now).
Even with all these changes, bottled water still often sells for under ₹20 per liter—a relief given that most groundwater in India isn't safe to drink.