Vikas Patni, the General Manager of RK Marble, that is one of the leading natural stone importers in India, is warning the sector as follows: “The removal of trade quotas has adversely affected the serious and determined companies who were importing natural stones. Due to the newer players in the industry bulk of cheaper & lower quality material has started coming in India which has negatively impacted the repute of higher quality Italian and Turkish marble.”
The Turkish natural stone industry has two locomotive markets in the block exportation; China and India. India, which is a colourful country with a population of over one billion, purchased natural stone valued at $ 90,236,657 in 2018 from Turkey. The strong importers of the Indian market have also contributed to this. One of them is RK Marble. The company, which has more than 400 different types of stone in its portfolio, buys nearly 250 of these stone types from Turkey. RK Marble buys 3500-4000 tons of natural stone including beige marble, exotic colored stones, travertine, onyx and limestone from Turkey every year. Vikas Patni, the Managing Director of RK Marble, which is a global trendsetter company in Indian market with its high purchase power, said that they started importing natural stone in 2006 and Tekmar Company from Turkey was the first country they imported natural stone from.
Cheap and Low Quality Stones
Vikas Patni, saying that they have good relations with Turkey and never experienced any problems in trade, have given some advises to the Turkish government and the Turkish natural stone industry. Patni said: “The removal of trade quotas has adversely affected the serious and determined companies who were importing natural stones. The smaller and unorganized companies started importing blocks and started selling the material at a very cheaper price without considering the overheads, risk of lower quality blocks in the lots etc. However, these companies could not sustain for a longer period and they already started closing their businesses. Secondly due to the newer players in the industry bulk of cheaper & lower quality material has started coming in India which has negatively impacted the repute of higher quality Italian and Turkish marble.”
“Customers Should be Provided High Quality Stones”
Patni, saying that majority of marble in India is imported from Turkey. He said: “The majority of imports of marble blocks in India is from Turkey. Its market share is already over 60% of the total imports. To Increase it furthermore it is important for the Turkish companies to provide their customer with sound & square blocks rather than unshaped, crack and lower quality blocks. Turkish companies should provide test reports as per ASTM for the marble to their buyer similar to Italian Companies. There is general perception that Italian marble are of better quality. Turkish Government should give special incentive to large companies importing more than 20000 tons.”
The Popular stone is Beige Marble
Presently, RK Marble is importing stone from over 30 countries. The company has the wide range of imported Marble, Beige marble, Exotic colored stones, whites, Travertine, Onyx, Limestone, Granite, Quartzite etc. imported from different parts of the world. They import beige marble from Turkey, Italy, Greece, Oman etc. also becoming popular since last decade.
Natural Stone Use will Increase
Patni says: “The use of natural stone in India is high mainly in the cities located in the North and south of India. All the Metros, 2 tier and 3 tier cities in India are using Natural Stones as flooring material in their homes. Natural stone demand shall exist in the Indian Market for the years to come, however the artificial stone and tiles have also entered into the market with cheaper price. Still the end consumer who has the love of natural stone for flooring shall remain and they will use natural marble in their homes and offices.”
Export to More than 45 Countries
India’s leading importer RK Marble also operates a quarry. Patni says: “Flawless White and Cat’s Eye which are white marbles from our own quarry in Vietnam. Flawless white personifies beauty, strength and durability. A fine-grained rock contains more than 99% calcite making it one of the purest marble in the world. We have our own processing unit in Vietnam and presently we are exporting blocks, slabs and cut to sizes to more than 45 countries directly from Vietnam. Wonder White, Morwad White and Ocean Black are from our own quarry in India.”
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+90 532 585 51 95