Handicrafts export up 7.7% in Dec

The country's handicraft exports showed a growth of 7.68 per cent in December, recording growth for the fourth consecutive month, garnering $241.41 million, compared to the same month in the previous year.

In the first nine months (April-October) of this fiscal, however, exports declined by 11.95 per cent at $1.15 billion compared to $1.3 billion in the same period in 2008-09.

Although positive, the December growth was slower than that of in the previous three months of September, October and November but on a low base of 2008.

"Though the pace at which the exports were growing has slowed down in December, we expect the positive trend to continue as we had good sales and business inquires from our fairs organised in various countries like Germany, France and Italy," Handicrafts Export Promotion Council Executive Director Rakesh Kumar said, while releasing the December data here today.

Besides, Christmas and New Year seasonal orders also pushed the growth in these months.

"We are getting less number of orders compared to the last few months as the Christmas-New Year season is over," Kumar said.

Segments that recorded high growth included, shawls and artwares (12.3 per cent), woodwares (9.78 per cent), imitation jewellery (9.27 per cent), miscellaneous handicrafts (9.17 per cent) and handprinted textiles and scarves (7.75 per cent).