Carpet exports jump 5 per cent in Sept

India’s carpet exports grew 5 per cent to $ 73.5 million in September on rising demand from emerging markets like China, Latin America and Africa.

In September last year, these exports stood at $ 69.98 million, according to the data provided by the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC).

“The demand in the European market is still low, while the American market is reviving. Besides, there is a demand for our carpets in emerging markets such as Latin America, Africa and China,” a CEPC official said.

The US and European markets account for over 60 per cent of the country’s total carpets exports.

The categories that registered maximum growth in September are handmade silk carpets which grew 23 per cent, followed by handmade synthetic carpets at 5 per cent and handmade woollen tufted carpets at 4.9 per cent.

During April-September of 2013-14 fiscal, carpet exports jumped 10.23 per cent to $ 530 million compared to the same period last fiscal.

In 2012-13, carpets exports crossed the $ 1 billion mark. The sector employs over a million people.