Rainy spell causes losses for brick manufacturers in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: Brick manufacturers in Gujarat have suffered losses in the recent spell of unseasonal rain, with an estimated seven crore raw bricks destroyed. Large kilns in central Gujarat and smaller kilns in Saurashtra have suffered losses. Brick manufacturers say the effect on supply will be seen after July and prices will be higher between July and November.
Gujarat Brick Manufacturers’ Federation secretary Mahendra Prajapati said, “There are about 1,200 brick kilns in Gujarat and with each making 30-40 lakh bricks a year. There are 25,000 small kilns in the state, each of which make 2 lakh bricks a year. Many parts of the state got unseasonal rain in the last week, which destroyed raw bricks. Large kilns have lost 8 lakh raw bricks on average, while the smaller kilns lost 25,000 raw bricks each. There is finished stock, so there will be no effect on supply immediately, but a shortage will be seen between July and November, till new production starts.”
Hemal Prajapati, the owner of a large kiln, said, “The unseasonal rain has hurt brick manufacturers in many parts of the state. My facility is near Ahmedabad. In our region, most big kilns have lost 10 lakh bricks each. We will have to wait for it to dry up till we can manufacture again. In a few months, supply will be restricted. Demand is currently low due to the Holi vacation at many construction sites.”
This sector employs more than 5 lakh people in the state.