Tiles Prices to Rise Again by 10% to 20% From June 1

Morbi: Following the US and Israel's attacks on Iran, a wave of inflation has hit the world amidst global fuel shortages. The ceramic industry, which was already shut down for nearly a month and a half due to a lack of gas, was recently forced to implement a 15% to 20% price hike due to a sudden and massive surge in gas prices. Within just one month of this hike, rising raw material costs have prompted the Morbi ceramic industry to announce another 10% to 20% price increase, effective from June 1.

According to available details, tense relations between the US and Iran led to a complete halt in LPG and propane supplies, forcing Morbi's ceramic units into a month-and-a-half-long shutdown. To keep the industry running, manufacturers were left with piped natural gas as their only alternative. However, a massive price hike was implemented there too. Consequently, ceramic manufacturers raised prices by 15% to 20% in May, pushing wall tile prices up to ₹160 per box, and vitrified and GVT tiles to an average of ₹27 per square foot.

However, amid ongoing instability in gas supplies, gas prices are expected to rise yet again in June. As a result, the Morbi Ceramic Association has decided to increase the prices of GVT and vitrified tiles by ₹3 per square foot and wall tiles by up to ₹30 per box from June 1. Reports indicate that customers have already been informed to prepare for this hike. Notably, this is the second time within a short span of one month that the Morbi ceramic industry has decided to raise prices due to escalating gas costs.