Marble exports much lower than target

Processors say power outages have cut production to 30% of capacity.

KARACHI: The marble processing industry could make only $6 million worth of exports in first quarter (July-September) of the current fiscal year as power outages for long hours have drastically reduced its production.

“The processing factories in Karachi could operate at only 30 per cent of their capacity, leading to a delay in meeting export orders. As a result of this, we are losing our export markets,” said All Pakistan Marble Mining, Processing and Export Industry Chairman Sanaullah Khan while talking to The Express Tribune.

Over 350 factories are operating in Manghopir area of Karachi, which has around 95 per cent share in total marble exports of the country. This year, the country is expected to export $100 million worth of marble, but the target seems difficult to achieve in the face of prolonged power outages.

According to marble processors, many of them are considering shifting to other cities of the country as 12 to 14 hours of load-shedding in a day has become unbearable for them.

“Almost the whole day is lost due to power outages and even in night electricity supply is frequently disrupted, making it impossible for factories to operate,” Khan said.

He said the marble industry had set export target of $25 million for the first quarter with $8 to $9 million worth of shipments every month, but the processors could export only $6 million worth of marble in three months from July to September.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2011.