Chinese machines having seized a huge chunk of the local sewing machine market in the industrial sector, leaving the Ludhiana sewing machine industry to cater to just the house-hold domestic sewing machine market.
An expert said that the industry in Ludhiana was greatly affected on account of instability in the prices of raw material.
Ludhiana contributes 80 to 90 percent to the total production of domestic sewing machine industry of an industry which is worth around Rs. 15 billion.
Kapoor stated that previously, when prices of the raw material were steady, sewing machines were even being exported by the manufacturers in Ludhiana. However, over past three years, marginal contributions have flowed from exports.
Owing to the unsteadiness prevailing over prices of raw materials, several manufacturers were in view of importing Chinese components for domestic machines, he added.
In time availability of the raw material is also a core concern for the industry, said another expert. He also added that considering the instability in prices of inputs, the components were being imported by the assemblers and manufacturers.
He stated that lack of government support, in recent previous years and no significant innovations or R&D, could propound a challenge for the industry.
One more expert said that government needs to mediate and see that the raw material prices are not hiked arbitrarily and also said that the government should take a re-look at the sewing machine industry's demands.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India