Roca becomes largest sanitary player

Roca, a euro 1.7 billion (Rs 9,400crore) company, by entering into a joint venture with EID Parry India (Ltd) to form Parryware Glamourooms Pvt Ltd, has become the largest sanitaryware player in the world.

Spain-based Roca has surpassed US-based American Standard, the largest maker of sanitaryware producing about 31 million units per annum.

Roca, which currently has 30 million units with its partnership with EID Parry India, would have combined sanitaryware capacity of 33 million units per annum.

Parryware Glamourooms Pvt Ltd has about 3.25 million units and expects to increase its capacity to 4 million units during the current financial year.

Jose-Miguel Roca, CEO, Roca, said, "Our plans are to be a strong player in the Indian market. We would invest more on expansion of the existing factories and acquire companies in the bathroom solution space. However, I cannot disclose the plans."

The Indian sanitaryware market is estimated at Rs 750 crore ( about 22 million units) of which organised sector is close to Rs 350 crore.

The premium segment is about seven per cent growing at 20 per cent while the mid-segment is growing 25 per cent which Parryware plans to tap.

According to the plans chalked out by Parryware Glamourooms Pvt, business from hotels, malls, are expected to grow to Rs 75 crore from Rs 50 crore for the current financial year. The greenfield plant in Perundurai set up with the technological assistance from Roca is expected to go on steam next month.

EID Parryware had invested about Rs 60 crore in the new plant.