India to import silk from China to meet demand: SMOI bl-premium-article-image

PTI Updated - October 01, 2012 at 05:58 PM.

With demand for silk exceeding supply, India has to import nearly 4,000 tonnes of silk fabrics from China, a top official of Silk Mark of India (SMOI) said today.

As against the demand of 30,000 tonnes of raw and fabric silks, India was producing only 21,500 tonnes, necessitating imports of 5,000 tonnes of raw silk and 4,000 tonnes of silk fabrics from China, SMOI Chief Executive Officer K S Menon told reporters here.

Menon, here in connection with the six-day Silk Mark Expo beginning tomorrow, said India also exported silk products, like saree, worth Rs 3,000 crore to the US, EU and the West Asia annually.

On preventing adulteration of silk, he said such activities cannot be stopped only by bringing in legislations, as it was not possible to monitor since there were more than five lakh weavers, both in handloom and powerloom sectors, depending on the trade.

SMOI, through the exhibitions, has made a business turnover of Rs 130 crore during the last three years, Menon said.

Published on October 1, 2012 12:27