China now India's top coir export destination

In the previous financial year, total export was 429,501 tones valued at Rs 1116 crore

India’s coir exports  grew 32 per cent in 2013-14, in value terms. According to G Balachandran, chairman, Coir Board, India exported 537,040 tonnes of coir and coir products, valued at Rs 1,476 crore, this financial year against 429,501 tonnes valued at Rs 1,116 crore in the previous financial year.

According to the board, coir yarn export grew 59 per cent to Rs 329 crore, while coir pith export increased 38 per cent to Rs 342 crore.

Balachandran said there was tremendous growth in coir yarn export to China during the last financial year. China replaced the US as the biggest importer of coir-based products from India.

Of the total receipts from  exports, 24.42 per cent were from  China.  In terms of quantity, 36 per cent went to China alone. During 2013-14, a total of 192,110 tonnes of coir products, valued at Rs 361 crore , were shipped to China. The US had imported 55,091 tonnes of coir-based products, valued at Rs 300 crore.

India had exported products to 103 countries during 2013-14. The chairman expressed concern over the sharp increase in the shipment of coir yarn to China. China mainly uses this yarn to manufacture value-added products and export them to countries including India.

Tamil Nadu produces 60 per cent of the total coir yarn, but only a little is being used for making value-added products. This curtails India’s opportunities in the global markets, where demand is increasing for natural fibre-based products. India misses the opportunity of exporting value-added products in the world market, which is mainly dominated by countries like Sri Lanka and China.

Kerala, which is a leading destination for coir-based products, has  lost its sheen  in the export market over the last four years.

While the state had contributed 27 per cent in the total volume of exports and 67 per cent in the value in 2009-10, its share dropped to 14 and 52 per cent, respectively. Kerala had exported 73,665 tonnes of products valued at Rs 709.58 crore in 2013-14.