PVC mica sales are growing thanks to increasing number of retail showrooms and decreasing margin in panel products and decorative laminates. The demand for PVC sheets often termed as PVC mica or PVC laminates has strengthened during last three years due to increasing supply and new designs from imports and later supported by entry of domestic producers. With almost 20 plus domestic producers in PVC mica category, the product is successfully and quickly spreading its presence even in smaller cities. Earlier the PVC sheets sales were limited to Design conscious metros like Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Bangalore etc but since last 2 years the presence has reached to key developing cities and other metros too.
The kitchen mock up display showrooms that were largely seen in metro and big cities a few years before have now come up in smaller cities too that are also adding to spread of this product category. This segment has been always ruled by 1.0 mm decorative laminates but is slowly handing over some share to PVC mica, just because PVC mica offers some unique very attractive designs and retailers earn bigger margin per sheet.
The Ply Reporter survey finds that market share of domestic producers has increased significantly during last two years which increasing number of manufacturing establishments. Growing attractive folders and designs is helping retailers to offer variety to consumers who were solely depending upon decorative laminates for this application. With steep rise in competition in laminate segment, retailers begun to convert a laminate buyer in a PVC sheet buyer. The retailers are very much keen to keep this product and promote through its counters due to margin though the inventory are weak hence the delivery time still poses a problem in this segment.
The Ply Reporter survey findings indicate that PVC mica has taken around 2.5% of 1.0 mm market share just because it gives better aesthetics due to shining surface and better margin to retailers. The PVC mica market is growing at 20 % since last three years but it includes the liner or white sheets too. A dozen of manufacturing establishments such as Amulya, Skydecor, Virgo, GL, Meraki, Black Cobra, Alcore, Stanley, Vir, Alstone etc are producing PVC mica in India and growing. According to fresh reports, around half a dozen of new lines are going to be commissioned till March 2019 and many decorative laminate people are planning to enter into PVC mica manufacturing business. Contractors are using PVC sheets for wardrobe, kitchen and cabinets mainly and it saves their times because sides are packed by the same sheet instead of using edge band.