The ongoing nation-wide truckers' strike has adversely affected Gujarat's textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemical and ceramic industry, especially with exporters finding it hard to comply with orders, industry representatives said.
Industry bodies have also appealed to the Centre to end the strike as local industries are being affected due to difficulty in movement of finished goods and raw materials, with many units stopping production and laying off workers.
The indefinite strike, called under an umbrella body of All India Motor Transport Congress with a slew of demands, including reduction of diesel prices, enters its fifth day today.
"Movement of raw materials and finished goods have got hit. Export orders expiring, which is affecting our prestige in the international markets," president of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shailesh Patwari said.
"Exporters have a major issue as they are finding it hard to comply with orders and orders taken for ceramics, pharmaceuticals, chemical and textiles are expiring. Foreign competitors will benefit at our cost," Patwari said.
Workers are also getting laid off due to lack of activity in the industrial units, he said.
In a letter to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Saurashtra Oil Mills Association (SOMA) said "local industries in Saurashtra region are entirely dependent upon transporters for availing raw materials and dispatch of finished goods."