Handicrafts exports soar 13 percent in April

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SME Times News Bureau | 18 May, 2013
Due to revival in demand from US, the handicraft exports from India has increased 13 percent to USD 256.8 million in April in 2013, reports media.

According to the data provided by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), handicraft exports stood at USD 227.16 million in April last year.

"There has been an increase in the number of orders from traditional markets like the US. Also, the demand has been good from emerging ones such as China, Latin America and Africa," EPCH Executive Director Rakesh Kumar said.

However, he said, the demand is still sluggish in European countries.

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

Among the items that registered increase in April 2013, imitation jewellery saw the highest growth of 40.6 percent, followed by woodwares 35.2 percent, shawls as artwares 29.3 percent and hand printed textiles and scarves about 10 percent.

The country's total handicraft exports have met the target of USD 3.3 billion for 2012-13.