Buyers from across India are keep away from visiting the textile city Surat following the outbreak of swine flu there due to which trading of fabrics, including saris and dress materials, has been affected since the last fortnight leading to almost 50% decrease in trading activities.

Traders from Delhi, West Bengal, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have stopped visiting the markets for bulk purchases.

The Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (Fostta) president Savarmal Budhia said that buyers from other cities are scared as there have been over 280 deaths due to swine flu across Gujarat. The wholesale trading of fabrics in the markets has stopped. Traders anticipate the demand to increase only after March 20 with the start of summer season.

Fostta office-bearers said that there are over 150 textile markets on the Ring Road, Salabatpura and Sahara Darwaja areas house more than 65,000 textile shops. Daily turnover of the fabrics, including saris, dress materials, home-furnishing, etc, is pegged at Rs 110 crore. But the trading now had reduced to Rs 60 crore.

Alkesh Agarwal, a textile trader, said that there is 50% decrease in the business which is a big loss to them and many other traders in the markets.

Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry's textile committee chairman Devkishan Manghani said that the traders' fraternity is ardently waiting for the summer season to set in. Swine flu virus remains active in cold weather.