Trade Articles

India is a country which is endowed with high quality natural stones like marble, sandstone, granite etc. The nation is characterized as the home to inexhaustible resources of various types of dimensional stones which are dissipated in throughout the country. India has more than 11% export share in total world's total stone export. It produces more than 27% of the total stones produced in throughout the world. India is recognized as one of the largest raw stone material producer. India is a place of different types of dimensional stones which include marble, granite, sandstone, slate, limestone and quartzite that are widespread in every corner of the nation. As per an estimation indian stone industry is estimated to be more than Rs 3,200 crore processing stones. Indian monuments are supplied in more than 25 nations throughout the world. India encompasses around 32 various varieties of granite for monuments and more than 90% of them can be find in 3 southern states- Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. More than 95 per cent monument factories are situated in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Tamil Nadu shares around 75 per cent. There are around 150 units located in Tamil Nadu. India is a renowned producer of natural dimensional stones, possessing excellent physical and chemical characteristics. One can find out the enormous opportunities waiting to be geared in the stone industry. Stones like granites, marbles, sandstones, limestones, slate stones etc. are characterized as one of the best quality stones in all over world. In present date stone industry is recognized as one of the fastest growing sector in the Indian economy.

Stones Available in India

There are various types of stones with sparkling appearance and fine finishing available in different places of India. Have a look on some types of stones which are found within the Indian territory.

• Marble deposits can be found in various parts of India with economically high deposits concentrated in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. New varieties of marbles are found and are gradually being developed in Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal
  Rajasthan has a huge concentration of marble with reserves dissipated in various districts of Nagaur, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Banswara, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Sirohi, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Bundi, Alwar and Pali. The different colors found in Rajsthan marbles are Makrana Albeta White, Green, Makrana Kumari White, Makrana Dungri White, Jhiri Onyx, Phalodi Pink, Ambaji White, Indo-Italian, Babarmal Pink, Bhainslana Black, Forest Green, Forest Brown, Agaria White.
• Granite multicolor varieties of granite can be easily seen in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. India has a huge reserves of one of the best quality of granite with varied varieties, having more than 200 shades. More than 20% of world's granite is found in India. The nation holds the no.1 rank as a largest granite and granite products exporter.
• Sandstone deposits are available in the states of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. More than 90% of sandstone deposits are available in Rajasthan, which are spread in the districts of Dholpur, Bharatpur, Kota, Jodhpur, Sawai-Madhopur, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Bikaner, Jhalawar, Pali, and Jaisalmer.
• Slate deposits are available in Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. Slate depository in Rajasthan are found in Alwar, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, Pali, Udaipur, Churu, and Chittorgarh.
• Limestone deposits are found in large quantity in state Andhra Pradesh. It accounts to more than 32% of country's total limestone reserves. The state's limestone reserve is calculated to be nearly 93,623 million tonnes.

Problems of Indian Stone Industry

India is the third largest producer of natural stones still the Indian industry holds less than 10% share in world market. In spite of holding a vast natural resources of stones and a pool of good craftsmen, the Indian stone industry is facing stiff competition from China. The China is importing rough stones from India and export it by adding some value in it. The height of China's stone market is increasing day by day due to the positive outcome of its government policy, low cost funding and various economies of scale which has finally benefited its stone industry. China holds about 98% market share in Japan's monument market. Stalwarts of industry are of opine that the major constraints coming in the success path of Indian stone industry are the lack of good quality of infrastructure. The government's policies are somehow remain unsatisfactory in keeping the Indian stone industry on a positive note. The Indian government is required to be adopt more scientific and technological view towards its stone industry. Industry demands using of scientific ways, quarrying practices in upgrading its sector. The industry should adopt more latest technology for curtailing down its cost and finally improving its quality.