Carpet exports jump 14 per cent in August

NEW DELHI: India's carpet exports grew 14 per cent to about USD 74 million in August 2012 on the back of increasing demand from new markets like China and Latin America.

These exports stood at USD 64.48 million in August 2011, according to the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) data.

"There is a good demand for our carpets in new markets like Latin America, Africa and China," a CEPC official said.

He, however, said the demand is still less in western markets such as the US and Europe.

The US and European markets account for over 60 per cent of the country's total carpet exports.

The council expects carpet exports to touch USD 1 billion in 2012-13 compared to USD 808 million in the last fiscal. The carpet exports sector employs 2.5 million people.

Among the categories which have registered maximum growth in August are handmade silk carpets that grew by 76 per cent, followed by synthetic carpets at 49 per cent and woollen carpets at 17 per cent.

During April-August 2012-13, carpet exports rose by about two per cent to USD 447 million compared to the same period last year.