India, Sept. 2 -- Khimjibhai Kundaria, the chairman of Gujarat-based Wintel Digital Vitrified Tiles and Wintel Surfaces, has only one aim these days - reworking his export strategy. His operations in Morbi town's Nava Jambudia area rely entirely on exports, with 50% of shipments going to the US and the other half to West Asia and Europe.

American buyers have pulled back nearly all the orders since the US tariff announcements, he said. "Buyers have stopped orders, exports are down, and the bigger effects are still to come," said Kundaria, whose company ranks among India's top five ceramic exporters to the US.

The US is among the top three markets for the Indian ceramic industry and one that has helped build this area into an export hub o...