MORBI, India (AP) — Morbi, a vibrant industrial hub that produces over 80% of India’s ceramic tiles, has been unusually quiet for the past month or so.
Since the war in Iran started there has not been enough fuel for the kilns used to make the tiles, and whatever is available is too expensive for the factories in Morbi to stay competitive. Most of the natural gas used is imported via the Strait of Hormuz.
The city in Gujarat state has thrived as a major export center due to its proximity to ports on the Arabian Sea, and the ready availability of raw materials locally.
Workers arrive for maintenance work at a closed ceramics factory in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Workers arrive for maintenance work at a closed ceramics factory in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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A ceramics factory is seen closed following fuel shortage in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A ceramics factory is seen closed following fuel shortage in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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A worker sweeps the floor of a closed ceramics factory in Morbi,in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A worker sweeps the floor of a closed ceramics factory in Morbi,in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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A migrant woman prepares a meal using firewood at a deserted ceramics workers’ quarters in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A migrant woman prepares a meal using firewood at a deserted ceramics workers’ quarters in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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A migrant worker stacks ceramic tiles in a factory in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A migrant worker stacks ceramic tiles in a factory in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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Migrant workers carry ceramic tiles at a factory in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Migrant workers carry ceramic tiles at a factory in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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Deserted ceramic workers’ quarters are seen following shortage of fuel in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Deserted ceramic workers’ quarters are seen following shortage of fuel in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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Migrant workers stand outside their deserted quarters at a ceramics factory in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Migrant workers stand outside their deserted quarters at a ceramics factory in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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Migrant workers prepare to cook at their deserted quarters at a ceramics factory in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Migrant workers prepare to cook at their deserted quarters at a ceramics factory in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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Workers perform maintenance on a machine at a shuttered ceramic factory in Morbi in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Workers perform maintenance on a machine at a shuttered ceramic factory in Morbi in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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A man performs maintenance work on a machine at a shuttered ceramics factory following a fuel shortage, in Morbi in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A man performs maintenance work on a machine at a shuttered ceramics factory following a fuel shortage, in Morbi in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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A ceramics factory lies deserted upon closure following fuel shortage in Morbi in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A ceramics factory lies deserted upon closure following fuel shortage in Morbi in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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A migrant woman prepares a meal using coal at a deserted ceramic workers’ quarters in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A migrant woman prepares a meal using coal at a deserted ceramic workers’ quarters in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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A migrant worker family sits in a deserted ceramics housing in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A migrant worker family sits in a deserted ceramics housing in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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A closed ceramics factory is seen following fuel shortage caused by the ongoing war in Iran, in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A closed ceramics factory is seen following fuel shortage caused by the ongoing war in Iran, in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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A family of migrant workers returns to their quarters in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A family of migrant workers returns to their quarters in Morbi, in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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Now some of Morbi’s workers have been forced to find alternative employment while others have returned to their homes in nearby states. Only a small fraction of the workers have been retained to carry out maintenance work in the factories.
“Out of the odd 650 or 700 manufacturing units, only four to five large ones are operational as they can afford to use the more expensive propane gas,” said Hareshbhai Bhadja, one of the partners in the manufacturing unit GC Granito.
However, the recent ceasefire has brought some hope to the city’s manufacturers.
A few factories are beginning to open after supply assurance from the state government’s Gujarat Gas. Whether prices will drop to pre-war levels remains to be seen.
