Germany becomes top buyer of Nepali Pashmina products

30 Oct '13

2 min read

Germany has become the top buyer of Pashmina products from Nepal during the first month of Nepali fiscal year that began on July 16, 2013, according to the data released by the Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal (FHAN), The Himalayan Times reported.

During the one-month period, Germany imported Nepali Pashmina products worth Np Rs. 19.28 million, followed by the UK and France with imports valued at Rs. 17 million and Rs. 16.7 million, respectively.

Until last fiscal year, the US was the largest importer of Nepali Pashmina items, but during the month under review it stood at fourth position with imports worth Rs. 13.4 million.

Finland was the fifth largest buyer of Nepali Pashmina products with imports worth Rs. 11.7 million during the month, FHAN data showed.

FHAN attributed the rise in Nepali Pashmina items imports by Germany to a growing demand for traditional Pashmina shawls and Pashmina knitwear in the European country.

During the financial year which ended on July 15, 2013, Nepal exported Pashmina goods worth Rs. 2.07 billion.

The National Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) has registered the ‘Chyangra Pashmina’ trademark in 41 countries, and this has also helped in increasing exports of Nepali Pashmina products, FHAN said.

Earlier this month, the Government of Nepal included Pashmina products in the list of 100 products submitted to the US, as proposed items for inclusion in the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) facility.

Pashmina is extracted from the inner coats of the hardy little mountain goats, locally known in Nepal as ‘Chyangra’, which live at an altitude of above 3,000 m in the Himalayas. Only the inner layer fibres measuring under 16.5 microns are specified for use as ‘Pashmina’.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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