Mangalore is synonymous with its roof tiles, which is very famous in and out of the country. They are known for their quality, utility, and perfect finish. It is also the largest tile factory in the country and their main area of production is building materials. They began exporting tiles and decorative items in the early 1950’s to countries as far as Australia, Malaysia, Ceylon, and East Africa. Presently they export their products mainly to the Middle East Countries.