Pump city of Asia
The development of prototypes for specialised pump sets could help replace imports estimated at nearly `5,000 crore and create new export opportunities. The pump and motor sector has a strong MSME base and supports around three lakh direct and indirect jobs across India, including nearly 70,000 in Tamil Nadu. G Krithika, VP of the Coimbatore Compressor Industries Association, said the industry had urged the government to reduce GST on pumps from 18% to 5% to improve competitiveness.
However, manufacturers said the cost of technology upgradation remained a major challenge for smaller units.
A `13-crore project funded by the department of heavy industry has been completed to design and develop eight ratings of submersible slurry pump sets with smart controllers. SITARC has also established an Automatic Test System for Electric Motors, capable of testing motors ranging from 50 watts to 500kW. K V Karthik of the Indian Pump Manufacturers Association (IPMA) said high-value pumps accounted for nearly 45% of the global market, but India’s share remained just 1% to 2%. Indian manufacturers now meet nearly 60% to 70% of domestic demand While such pumps were largely imported earlier. Kanishka Arumugam, co-CEO of EKKI and Deccan Pumps, said global pump market had reached an estimated $60.9 bn in 2025 and was projected to grow further in 2026. The sector expects exports to grow by about 10% annually in coming years.
Industry representatives said the next phase of growth would depend on the ability of local manufacturers to design and produce high-end pumps that meet global standards. M A Sendilkumar, president of The Southern India Engineering Manufacturers’ Association (SIEMA), said the Scientific and Industrial Testing and Research Centre (SITARC), established by SIEMA and CODISSIA, had played an important role in developing import-substitution products. The development has helped save foreign exchange and opened up export opportunities, he said. R Karthikeyan, president of Scientific and Industrial Testing and Research Centre (SITARC), said the facility had established a centre of excellence for advanced pumps and motors in Coimbatore with the support of the TN govt. He said domestic industrial pump manufacturing had gained momentum in recent years. The development of slurry pumps is an important step,” Karthik said. Arumugam said govt support was essential for R&D, tech upgradation and export promotion. Arun Ranganathan of Suguna Industries said the global pump market offered considerable opportunities, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. The market could be even larger when specialised applications and related equipment were taken into account, he said. Coimbatore is comparable with Ahmedabad and Rajkot in terms of market value but leads in production volume, particularly in small-sized pumps, industry representatives said.
Advanced technology, product design and engineering have traditionally been the cluster’s strengths. “Coimbatore has strong technical expertise and product-designing capabilities. These strengths have sustained the city’s pump industry for several decades,” Sendilkumar added. The technology is aimed at mines, ore-processing industries and ash-handling systems in thermal power plants. “Coimbatore is known for agricultural and domestic pumps, but manufacturers are now entering industrial applications. The submersible pump market is also witnessing growth, although falling groundwater levels remain a concern. High-efficiency brushless direct-current (BLDC) motors designed for solar pumping are emerging as an important technology in the segment. However, he cautioned that market growth measured in value terms did not indicate a corresponding increase in the volume of pumps sold. demand for energy-efficient and smart systems is increasing in building services and industrial applications While the agri market remains price-sensitive. India could learn from support extended by China and South Korea to build globally competitive pump industries.
Among its key developments is an indigenously designed submersible slurry pump that was earlier sourced from overseas.