Jamnagar: The announcement of an agreement date between Iran and the United States to end the war, along with the expected normalisation of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, has brought relief to Jamnagar’s brass industry, which had been facing disruptions due to uncertainty in the West Asia region. Industry players believe the development will help restore the pace of production and exports in the country’s largest brass manufacturing hub.

The prolonged tensions in West Asia had adversely affected the movement of raw materials and finished goods, adding to the challenges already confronting the industry. Industrialists say the uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz led to shortages of raw materials and a sharp increase in prices, forcing many units to scale down production.

According to industry estimates, brass manufacturing units in Jamnagar are currently operating at only around 60 percent of their production capacity. The industry has witnessed a decline of nearly 40 percent in output due to disruptions in imports and exports. With shipping activity expected to return to normal, industrialists are hopeful that production levels will gradually recover.

Around 25 to 30 percent of the raw materials used by the brass industry are sourced from Gulf countries, while nearly 30 percent of finished brass products are exported to international markets, including the Gulf region. Any disruption in maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz has a direct impact on the industry’s supply chain and export business.

Industry leaders believe that smoother movement of ships will ease the import of raw materials and improve export logistics, enabling units to utilize their full production capacity once again. This is expected to provide a significant boost to the sector, which supports thousands of businesses and workers in the region.

Jamnagar is home to an estimated 7,000 to 7,500 brass units, providing direct and indirect employment to nearly three lakh people. Industrialists say many units have been struggling with rising operational expenses and the burden of paying employees despite reduced production activity.

Ramjibhai Gadhiya, President of the Factory Owners Association, said the easing of tensions in the Gulf region is likely to create new employment opportunities as production increases. He noted that industrialists are currently bearing an additional financial burden of nearly 20 percent due to reduced output. As production and exports return to normal, this burden is expected to decline significantly.

The announcement of the ceasefire has sparked optimism across Jamnagar’s brass industry, with stakeholders expecting positive outcomes for production, employment, and exports in the coming months. DeshGujarat.