The volume of Iran's hand-woven carpet exports to China crossed US$ 5 million in the solar year that ended on March 20, 2011, as against exports of US$ 400,000 the year earlier, that is an increase of more than 12 times.
Iran aims to increase the value of its hand-woven carpet exports to China to nearly US$ 50 million by the end of its Fifth Five-Year Development Plan (2010-2015).
Carpet-weaving is a tradition carried on since ancient times in Persia and the carpets are famous for their exquisite design and skilled craftsmanship. With an estimated 1.2 million people engaged in this sector, Iran is the world's leading exporter of hand-woven carpets.
The country produces nearly five million sq m of carpets yearly, 80 percent of which is exported to over 100 countries across the globe.