The country’s handicraft exports jumped by 42 per cent on a year-on-year basis to $106 million in November on the back of growing demand in western markets like the US.

In November last year, these exports stood at $74.6 million, according to the data provided by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

“The number of orders from American and Chinese buyers is growing now,” an EPCH official said.

The demand, however, is yet to pick up in the European market, he added.

The US and Europe together account for about 60 per cent of the country’s total handicraft shipments.

Besides, the exporters are making efforts to create niche for their products in new markets such as Middle East, Russia and Latin America.

Among the items that registered maximum growth in overseas shipments in November are shawls and artware (124 per cent), wood-ware (91 per cent) and imitation jewellery (85 per cent).

During April-November period, handicraft exports grew 18.3 per cent year-on-year to $1.6 billion.

The council expects handicraft exports to touch $3.2 billion in the current fiscal compared to $2.75 billion in the last fiscal.

Moradabad, Jaipur, Saharanpur, Jodhpur and Narsapur are the major handicraft hubs in the country, employing one million people.

comment COMMENT NOW