Indian handprinted textiles exports rise 6% in H1 FY'14

16 Oct '13

2 min read

The exports of handprinted textiles and scarves from India increased 6.01 percent during the first half of the current fiscal, according to the recently released report of Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

During April-September 2013, exports grew by 6.01 percent and reached US$ 194.65 million, against last fiscal’s corresponding period exports of US$ 183.61 million.

Besides handprinted textiles and scarves, exports of embroidered and crocheted products grew by 2.48 percent from US$ 313.99 million to US$ 321.78 million, while that of shawls as artwares by 31.1 percent from US$ 42.06 million to US$ 55.14 million.

Overall, handicraft exports from India grew by about 11.27 percent during the period to US$ 1.56 billion, against exports worth US$ 1.41 billion recorded during same period of last fiscal.

The rise in exports is mainly attributed to increasing demand for Indian handicraft products from traditional as well as newly emerging markets.

Following positive sentiments, the Textiles Minister upwardly revised the handicraft export target for the current fiscal from US$ 3.8 billion to US$ 4 billion, considerably above last fiscal’s exports of US$ 3.3 billion.

During a media briefing EPCH executive director Rakesh Kumar said in the wake of rising demand from the traditional US market and newly emerging markets like Russia, China and Latin America, EPCH expects Indian handicraft sector to achieve the newly set target.

However, he added that demand from the EU market, which together with the US, accounts for around 60 percent of India’s overall handicraft exports, is yet to perk up.

EPCH chairman Lekhraj Maheshwari said exporters are also trying to make the most of China’s decision of shifting focus from labour-intensive sector to capital-intensive sector, to boost their share in global market.

EPCH is also organizing a four-day fair-'Indian Handicrafts and Gift Fair' (IHGF) to boost handicraft exports. The fair is expected to draw participation of over 2,600 exhibitors and over 4,500 international buyers, and attract business worth Rs. 150 million, as compared to last year’s Rs. 110 million, Mr. Maheshwari added.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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