Silk exports rise 9% in 11 months

India’s silk exports increased by about nine per cent to $627.37 million during the 11 months ended February 2009, despite the global economic crisis hitting the major markets of the US and EU.

In the April-February period of 2007-08, the exports stood at $575.09 million.

“Silk exports have registered nine per cent growth in the first 11 months of the last financial year mainly due to an increase of 24 per cent in ready-made garments exports,” a Central Silk Board official said.

“In the current financial year, we hope that the positive growth trend (of silk exports) will continue,” the official said.

India exports silk items such as ready-made garments, natural silk yarn, fabrics, scarves/stoles and carpets.

The US is a major market for Indian silk items, contributing about 22 per cent to the export kitty, followed by the UK, the UAE, Italy and Germany.

The industry employs about 6 million people who are engaged in various sericulture activities. Women constitute over 60 per cent of those employed in down-stream activities like mulberry garden management, leaf harvesting and silkworm rearing.

Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh are the major silk hubs in the country.