Tableware market doing well

The local tableware market is performing well despite a downward trend in the global markets. The markets such as Indian, Middle East and Japan have recorded growth while regionally there are better market opportunities.

The main international markets have not fully recovered from the recession and these markets remain dull at present. However, Sri Lanka has been able to sustain the lower-end product demand over weak high-end product demand, Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC Chairman and Managing Director Sunil Wijesinha told Daily News Business.

There will not be significant growth this year as tableware is not a highly demanded item. Exporters are not willing to give a good price at this difficult recession period. However, our product quality is high and this is an advantage when it comes to export markets, he said.

The high energy cost is a main concern for the industry where the prices of electricity and gas have gone up at present.

"Our local market is doing well. We need to concentrate more on European markets where high quality sophisticated tableware still have a good demand," Wijesinha said.

(SJ)