Indian exporters are unable to reap much benefit from the sliding rupee as many importers are asking for potential price discounts and demanding to pass on the rupee depreciation benefit to them, said industry experts.

"The rupee fall did not benefit us much as the buyers are demanding discounts. They (importers) are creating problems such as putting penalties on delayed shipments and creating unnecessary quality issues to get their share of the rupee fall," said Arvind Vadhera, Chairman, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

He added that the recession has pushed things further and has hurt their business growth and profit margins.

Also, D. K. Nair, Secetary General, Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) said rupee depreciation is by and large helpful to the textiles and clothing industry since nearly 40 percent of its production is exported and the sector has a very limited import intensity.

But, the higher cost for imported raw material and capital goods is more than compensated by the higher rupee realisation on their exports, he added.

"In fact, there are reports that the importers are asking the exporters to pass on the rupee depreciation benefit to them in view of the global economic slowdown," he said.

R Maitra, Executive Director, Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) also see eye to eye with other experts on the impact of sliding rupee. 

He said, "While many feel that a falling rupee is good for their exports, they are also worried about the increasing input cost, higher import prices and also the price discounts that is being sought by their buyers."

The Council has undergone a survey recently on the ongoing rupee fall. "We did a survey of our members and we are receiving mixed signals," he said.

"Further, since many are unable to project the value of the rupee more than a couple of months, many units are not seeking contracts for more than six months. This is not a good sign since engineering exporters work on long term contract," Maitra told SME Times.

"As the rupee is dipping sharply, they are unable to even figure out at what rates to hedge. Apart from this, the slackening demand in the global markets remain an area of worry," he opined.

He further said that the sector is facing immense trouble as it has made imports costlier at the moment.

"For import intensive sectors like the auto sector, there is a cost push effect. This coupled with high interest rates is impacting investment which is clearly showing in the falling investment rates over the last year," Maitra added.