Mehsana: Ceramics associations along with other players of tile industry are expected to make a representation to the Centre for re-introduction of the anti-dumping duty on import of tiles from China and increase the levy to USD 2 per square metre or above.

The six month tenure of anti-dumping duty on Chinese tiles ended on September 30, Asian Granito India Ltd (AGIL) Chairman and MD Kamlesh Patel said.

On March 30, the Centre, through a notification, slapped anti-dumping duty of USD 1.37 per square meter on import of tiles from China to protect the domestic industry.

The notification was meant to be in force for six months, starting from April 1, 2016.

“The six month tenure of that notification has lapsed on September 30. Thus, various ceramics associations and tile manufacturers of organized sector have decided to make a representation to the government to re-introduce the duty to protect the domestic players,” said Patel during his interaction with media at company’s plant here today.

“Further, we want government to consider raising the duty to USD 2 per square meter or above. Previous duty charges of USD 1.37 did not prove to be effective due to drop in freight rates per container from China, which went in favour of them,” he said.

He was accompanied by AGIL’s MD Mukesh Patel and other senior staff on the occasion of announcing the completion of expansion at it’s step subsidiary Crystal Ceramics, which was acquired by the company last year.

According to Mukesh Patel, the Indian tile industry is estimated at Rs 28,000 crore and growing at a healthy rate of 13 per cent per annum.

Some of the key components for growth are government-initiated projects, such as Smart Cities, Swach Bharat Abhiyan and affordable housing, he said.

“Apart from these initiatives, we are seeing huge potential in exports, as some European countries along with Brazil have also imposed anti-dumping duty on Chinese tiles.

It would sure help us. We expect that the the current market size of Rs 28,000 crore would double in six years” Mukesh Patel added.

PTI