Indian Wood Panel manufacturing mainly MDF and Particle Boards are dependent on China based machinery suppliers. According to industries and buyers who are installing new plants in segment of MDF, Particle boards other plant-tech manufacturing lines are getting delayed with significant durations. Various Indian companies who have ordered complete lines and important machines related to wood based industries and finishing lines are now extending their trial dates as they have witnessed delay in machinery supplies from China. The extended project deadline, has impacted the cost of project says industry people.
The delay especially for the particle board projects based at different locations in Gujarat, Kerala, and North India are reporting delayed completion dates than previously announced. The impact has been noted to related panel and furniture sector too. The WPC, ACP, PVC Edge band and Acrylic industries has also reported to be impacted due to delayed delivery of machines. The main hindrance being faced due to non-availability of China based engineers, who are expert in installation of these machines. The continued travel restrictions are causing increased project cost for companies now.
The estimated have gone up by 12-15% say industry owners and people who are erecting the plants. The whole issue is certainly an after effect of COVID scenario now. Despite the pandemic becoming endemic, machines are not getting delivered on time and installation engineers are still not able to come to India easily due to the uncertainties and surge of the disease. The affected supply chain has also hit the laminate industry in terms of timely availability of plates and paper.