The Indian pump manufacturing industry is facing one of its most challenging periods in recent years, as prolonged monsoon conditions, rising raw material costs, and a sharp market slowdown have severely impacted production and profitability during the financial year 2025.

Given the critical situation facing pump manufacturers across the country, a joint meeting of the Managing Committee members of the Indian Pump Manufacturers Association (IPMA), the Southern India Engineering Manufacturers Association (SIEMA), and the Rajkot Engineering Association (REA) was held to review the prevailing conditions in the industry.

During the meeting, the current challenges were discussed in detail. It was noted that a price increase in proportion to the rise in raw material costs was required to sustain business. This step would help support the weaker sections of the sector and ensure the long-term welfare of the entire pump manufacturing industry.

Challenges faced by the pump industry

The financial year 2025 has been particularly difficult for the pump manufacturing sector. Monsoon rains that began in May 2025 led to an early end to the domestic sales season. Although the agricultural season was expected to perform well between September and December 2025, continued rainfall until December resulted in a near-total failure of the pump season.

This situation significantly impacted profit margins, as production volumes remained low while overhead costs increased. Additionally, since June 2025, prices of key raw materials such as copper and aluminium have risen sharply. Copper prices increased by nearly 50% between June and December 2025, while aluminium prices rose by approximately 40% during the same period.

These cost pressures led to price increases of around 7% for surface pumps and 5% for submersible pumps. However, due to the overall market slowdown, many companies were unable to pass these cost increases on to customers, resulting in continued losses. Micro and small enterprises have been particularly affected, facing severe financial strain and raising concerns about their long-term sustainability.

These concerns were highlighted by Mithun Ramdas, President of SIEMA, and K.V. Karthik, President of IPMA.