With increasing production capacity and cut throat competition, the laminates markets is exploring new options and tend to offer decorative laminates sheets at affordable prices. Many producers feel that they can easily cater the demand of affordable 1 mm sheets with less effort, resulting the emergence of 0.92 mm laminates. As per report, these laminates range came into existence in 2014 by few brands but year on year it is growing. The Ply Reporter survey finds an approx sales of 4.5 lacs sheets every month which was just 2 lacs sheets per month during 2017. The market trend indicates that the offering will grow faster in coming years because these sheets are economical by Rs.60 to Rs. 80 per sheets than 1 mm laminates.
Experts see that these 0.92 mm range laminates would affect the market of `1 mm because of its affordable pricing. Survey says that these ranges are more in demand in Maharashtra and Gujarat markets but slowly spreading to other markets as well. A dealer from Mumbai says that 0.92 mm laminates folder contains 125 to 165 designs mostly of texture and high gloss sheets. These catalogues are getting popular in retail market because there are more focus on texture and bright colors. Market also says that these laminates rang are being introduced mainly by new and mid segment players to cater their 1 mm sales. Non-folders laminates categories are also reported to offer such thickness to spread their sales volume, reports the market.
The Ply Reporter survey finds that 1 mm laminates growth are almost flat since last two years but there is robust growth in 0.92 mm categories, which is taking share of 1 mm only. Although it gives temporary support to new players and they successfully find distributors and stock points at many places but it will create further price devaluation and unhealthy quality manipulation in decorative laminate market. The 0.92 design range is an intelligent product segment but destroying it with substandard quality and disturbing through channel under price competition. Pressure is nothing but selfinflicting effort by short sighted laminate producers. Many trade pioneers believe that ILMA (Indian Laminate Manufacturers’ Association) shall act tough on such matters and announce measures to stop playing gimmick on thickness basis.