The story
Morbi started with clay roof tiles, using local clay and the skills of potter communities; glazed tiles came in the 1970s and 1980s. Easy clay, cheap natural gas from Gujarat's network and nearby Kandla and Mundra ports helped hundreds of plants grow along the Morbi-Wankaner-Thangadh belt. Today it makes most of India's ceramic tiles and ships them to the Middle East, Africa and beyond.
In numbers
Morbi has around 1,200 ceramic units and accounts for nearly 90% of India's total ceramic production and exports (Gujarat government, January 2026).
Morbi emerges as global ceramic hub, contributing 90 pc of India's exports (IANS, citing Gujarat government) · 2026Ceramic exports from Morbi were around Rs 15,000 crore in 2024-25, with a capacity of nearly six million tonnes a year and jobs for nearly 9 lakh people directly and indirectly.
Morbi emerges as global ceramic hub, contributing 90 pc of India's exports (IANS, citing Gujarat government) · 2026The Thangadh-Wankaner-Morbi ceramic cluster had 597 functional units, a turnover of Rs 5,500 crore, exports of Rs 2,000 crore and 20,000 direct jobs (district profile 2012-13).
Brief Industrial Profile of Rajkot District 2012-13 (MSME-DI Rajkot, Ministry of MSME) · 2013
Ways in for a newcomer
- Packaging, pallets and corrugated boxes for tile plants
- Ceramic colours, glazes and frit supply
- Transport, container and export logistics
- Tile trading and showroom dealership
Problems the cluster faces
- Gas price swings raise fuel cost
- Air pollution and coal gasifier bans
- Overcapacity and price wars
- Anti-dumping duties in export markets
Businesses to start here
Ceramic Tile Manufacturing →Ceramic Washbasin (Sanitaryware) →Ceramic Colours (Stains and Frit) →Ceramic Paint Manufacturing →Corrugated Box Unit →Fire Clay Refractory Bricks and Blocks →