New registration norms by Saudi add to Morbi tile cluster's woes

The Saudi Arabian government has changed technical requirements for suppliers of ceramic tiles, forcing the units in Morbi to apply for certification for valid exports

The ceramic tile manufacturing hub in Morbi, Gujarat, the country’s largest with a turnover of around Rs 42,000 crore, could see its revenue suffer, after the Saudi Arabian government changed its technical requirements for the suppliers of ceramic tiles, sending the units in India scrambling to apply for certification.

But, only two manufacturers have bagged such a certification so far. This has led the others to consider shutting shop as they are heavily dependent on the region for revenue.

Earlier this year, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered these units to move from fossil fuel-based manufacturing process to carbon-friendly fuel, impacting their