High cost of phenol, formaldehyde and melamine has badly affected the prices of decorative laminates sheets for consumers. According to industry and trade report, the prices of 1 mm laminate have gone up by up to Rs. 40-45 per sheets, whereas 0.92 mm, 0.8 mm, door skin laminates and liner grade prices have increased by Rs. 35, Rs. 25, Rs. 20 and Rs. 15 respectively. Decorative Laminates producers opined that the prices of phenol have increased more than 15 percent in November – December and it keeps increasing regularly, forcing them to pass this burden to market.
Market sources confirmed that the distributors had received indication of price rise with affect from December 25, 2017 from their respective supplying companies and they have also conveyed the same to their dealers and consumers. Market sources also confirmed that the new rates might be implemented from first week of January, because the decision of price rise is taken unanimously by pan India decorative laminates producers.
A laminate producer says that there is a huge competition in decorative laminate market because of increasing number of producers leading to over supply scenario, hence they are forced to do business on little profit margin. They do not have capacity to observe any price rise in raw materials cost, so they are compelled to pass this burden to the consumers. It is reported that India has been adding 25 to 30 lacs sheets per month capacity every year since last 7 years, and this is also following the same patterns because more than 2 dozens presses are reported to start in 2018.