Surat, country's biggest man-made fabric (MMF) where finished fabric including saris and dress material manufactured are set to become with the hike in job charges by textile processors. According to Textile traders, Surti saris and dress material will become costlier by Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 per metre. The prices of high-end saris, including those exported to different countries, are likely to go up by Rs 6 per metre.

The South Gujarat Textile Processors' Association (SGTPA) on Friday announced 10 percent increase in job charges from August 1, citing increase in overall manufacturing cost of finished MMF fabrics due to rising cost of power, coal, lignite, dyes and chemicals and labour charges in the last one month.

President, SGTPA, Jitu Vakharia said that the rise in job charges was on the cards as the production cost has gone up in the last one month. They have decided to review the price hike every three months.

The powerloom sector, which has an installed capacity of over 6.5 lakh powerloom machines, weaves around 3 crore metres of polyester fabric per day. Recently, the frontline spinners increased yarn prices to the tune of Rs 4 per kilogram after crude oil prices soared, thereby increasing the cost of unfinished fabrics in the last fortnight.

Leader of the textile traders' community Devkishan Manghani said that the industry is passing through a tough phase due to dwindling demand for polyester fabrics, saris and dress material in the country. The hike in job charge is only going to subvert the industry further.

The daily turnover of saris and dress material is pegged at Rs 110 crore. The key markets for Surti saris and dress material are New Delhi, Punjab, Kolkata, Maharashtra, Chandigarh, Lucknow and Bihar.