Chinese machines are being used by around 90 percent of Ludhiana textile and hosiery industry, informed industry experts.
Though Chinese machinery and parts are of poor quality, but cost being very low compared to Indian makes, stated Naresh Kumar Chawla, Vice-President of The Sewing Machine Dealers & Assemblers Association.
Chinese needle price is five times lower than that of Indian needle. Other things like needle plate bobbins and bobbin case are much cheaper when bought from China.
Industry is using low cost Chinese machines to balance off rising prices of raw material, unscheduled power cut and Governments passivity towards industry.
Chawla said, "The price of the sheet metal, an important raw material used in the sewing has increased from Rs26,000 to Rs36,000 a ton in the last six months or so and same is the case with nickel which has seen a price rise from Rs600 to Rs1,000 in the last few months."
Inderjit Singh of Darbar Sales India conveyed that Chinese machines bear technology similar to Japanese one and this has led the former to offer tough competition to Japanese producers, worldwide.
