Surat: Textile processing units here will stay closed for two days a week due to rising processing costs and sluggish demand. The decision was taken at a meeting of the South Gujarat Textile Processors Association (SGTPA) to review challenges facing the textile industry.Representatives from major industrial clusters — Kadodara, Pandesara, Sachin and Palsana — attended the meeting and discussed the effects of coal shortages on production. Rising coal prices are as a key concern. “The industry is currently not receiving adequate coal supplies, and whatever stock is available may run out soon. As a major portion of the coal used by the industry is imported from Indonesia, the disruption in maritime supply has affected availability and cost,” said Jitu Vakharia, president, SGTPA. Industry members also pointed to global factors, including the ongoing war in the Middle East, which has added pressure on supply chains. Surat’s textile sector has nearly 425 operational processing mills, and a prolonged coal shortage is expected to affect production across the city. Industry leaders said efforts were underway to source coal from Bhavnagar and other places in the state. The meeting also highlighted the sector’s dependence on dyes and chemicals, making processing units vulnerable to supply disruptions. Along with coal, rising prices of dyes and chemicals have further strained operations. “Due to the ongoing situation, dyes and chemical prices are also rising. This has made it difficult for the processors to meet the cost when demand for textile products is already low,” Vakharia added. Not all mills will shut simultaneously. Instead, units will observe closures on alternate days in a staggered manner to reduce pressure on resources and manage operations efficiently, while ensuring regular employment for workers. Industry leaders said the move was aimed at helping units cope with the current situation and avoid a deeper crisis. They warned that stricter measures may be taken if conditions fail to improve.
