New Delhi, Nov 13 (KNN) The granite industry in Karnataka has been impacted by strained relations between India and China, a recession in the US, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The export of granite to other countries from the state has come down over the last one year affecting the industry in Chamarajanagar district, a major supplier of granite, reported Deccan Herald.

As per the report, most of the quarries in the district are on the verge of closure with supply now being limited to local markets.

The granite and marble stones are exported to the US, Europe and China from India and there is an annual turnover of around Rs 15,000 crore. 

AS Krishna Prasad, General Secretary of Federation of Indian Granite and Stone Industry, “The business has come down by 40- 50 per cent over the last one year. Hence, we have slowed down production in quarries.”

“China is the major customer of granite products and the stones were exported from Andhra Pradesh. The tension between the two countries has affected the industry badly”, he said.

Karnataka stands fifth in the country in the export of granite and stone products. There are a number of granite quarries in Chamarajanagar, Ilkal, Kanakapura, Tumakuru, Hassan and Mangaluru and the stones are exported to the US and Europe.

With the economic recession in the US, artificial granite and marble are becoming popular. Incidentally, they are also being exported from India. The demand for granite has reduced by 20 per cnet compared to previous years, Prasad added.

(KNN Bureau)