Record increase in coir exports

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Record increase in coir exports

KOCHI: Export of coir products from India increased by 20.47 percent with the record quantity of 118158 tonnes from April to November despite the rupee’s appreciation against dollar.

According to a coir board press release, 12.5 percent appreciation in rupee against US dollar and many other factors had affected the export of coir and coir products. Even in these adverse situations, country has witnessed record increase in export during April-Nov 07.

In terms of rupee, the export up to November 2007 was higher by only 2.5 percent with the quantity of 98,079 tonnes compared to April-November 2006.

Coir Board Chairman A C Jose said the rupee appreciation had not dented Coir exports, the value realization would have gone up by another Rs.68.27 crores Coir and its products were exported to more than 97 countries the world over.

The USA is the single largest market with a share of more than 40 percent in the total export. European countries together share more than 41 percent of the export of coir. About 19 percent of the remaining export is shared by a number of countries.

The USA, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Australia, France, Spain, Canada, Japan, Greece, Sweden, South Africa, UAE, Portugal and Denmark are the major markets of coir and coir products in the globe.

Coir is exported in the form of raw materials like coir fibre, yarn, curled coir etc. furnishing articles like door mats, matting, rugs, carpets, coir rope and rubberized coir and its products, pith based products for agricultural operations and soil erosion control materials - coir geotextiles.

Coir Board had participated in various international trade fairs and exhibitions and displayed the range of products available for export from India.

Recently, the Export Market Development Assistance Scheme of the Coir Board has been modified to encourage more and more small scale exporters with an export turnover of less than Rs.2 crores to undertake promotional measures like participation in exhibition, study tour, buyer seller meet etc, the release said.

Jose said that the Coir Board would organize participation in international fairs as well as buyer seller meet to expose small scale exporters to international competition. They will be provided the air fare and stall rent subject to a maximum of Rs.1.25 lakhs, he added.