The Morbi ceramic industry, which was badly hit by the global economic meltdown, is gradually regaining its shape-thanks to the rise in demand in the domestic market, especially from rural areas.

Until March, over 60 per cent of the total 350 units, including floor tile, roof tile, wall tile and vitrified tile manufacturing units, had downed shutters at this ceramic hub of India, leaving thousands without jobs.

Morbi and Than, an adjacent town, together account for over 80 per cent of the total ceramic wares production in the country.

The industry is estimated to be worth Rs 4,000 crore.

“The industry is now functioning at almost its full strength. Each and every unit is open, and functioning round the clock,” said Morbi Ceramic Manufacturers Association president Girish Pethapara.

Pethapara, owner of Deco Ceramic, added, “Mobi-Than units are set to touch the production mark of 10-lakh square metres per day for wall and floor tiles. This figure is almost the same as recorded before the industry was hit by the meltdown in October.”

According to Dinesh Patel, who also owns a unit, the reopening of various units has seen the entire chain of workers, manufacturers and even transportation back to work.

“We expect to start full functioning within a month or so,” said Patel. Over 10 per cent of the total production accounts for export, but there has been little improvement on this front, as the demand has been largely generated by the domestic market.

There has been a backlog, but the manufacturers are confident of bringing it down in a month or two.

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