On Friday, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced that Oman has consented to export marble blocks to India as part of a trade agreement. This move is expected to enable India to substitute Turkish marble imports and boost job creation in the processing sector. Since 2016, Muscat had prohibited the export of raw marble to encourage domestic value addition.
Oman had previously prohibited the export of marble blocks. However, they have now allowed exports to our country, which will benefit the marble processing industry. This change means that instead of importing finished marble, we can create jobs and manufacture marble tiles and flooring in India. Additionally, this will reduce our imports from Turkey, as the prices are more competitive," Goyal stated during a press conference.
The minister's statement follows a period of tension between India and Turkey that began in May, when Pakistan deployed Turkish-manufactured drones to attack 23 Indian cities during Operation Sindoor. Due to national security issues, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) withdrew the security clearance for Celebi Airport Services India, a Turkish ground handling company.
A government representative mentioned that all nations are keen on exporting market slabs, emphasizing the significance of blocks for the downstream sector. "These can be transformed into slabs and utilized. It is more logical for us than acquiring slabs directly. We have permitted it under a quota," the representative stated.
The authorities mentioned that importing marble could help address the shortage of 'Makrana White' marble in India. However, Omani marble might not be suitable for flooring because of its flaky texture and could instead be utilized for decorative applications.
Marble processors in Udaipur have appealed to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to impose restrictions on marble imports from Turkey, due to Turkey's backing of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. India primarily sources its marble from Turkey.
According to Parveen Goel, former President of Laghu Udyog Bharti, the Indian marble industry is valued at approximately Rs 40,000 crore, as reported to PTI. He mentioned that they requested the inclusion of this provision in the agreement because India's imports of raw marble blocks are around 1.3 million metric tonnes, primarily sourced from Turkey, Italy, and Vietnam. The marble industry in India is mainly located in states such as Rajasthan and Gujarat.
According to official trade figures, India's exports to Turkey amounted to $5.72 billion in FY25, while imports from Turkey in the previous financial year were $2.99 billion.
The report indicated that there has been a rise in Indian tourists canceling their trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan, as seen in the visa application trends for these nations. Instead, travelers are now considering places such as Kazakhstan, Egypt, Jordan, Georgia, and Armenia.
