Coir exports increase sharply in first qtr.

Kochi: Coir exports from India have shown a spectacular rise during the first quarter of 2010-11. Volume of exports in April-June 2010 grew by 82% and value realisation went up by 21.5%, Coir Board sources said.

Trade in traditional products like rugs and carpets were down during 2009 and early 2010 due to economic slowdown in the US and European market. Most incremental increase in exports were from raw and semi-processed coir materials, which created a raw material shortage in Indian markets.

In April-June 2010-11, India exported 94,649 tonne of coir products valued at Rs 194.20 crore as against 52,038 tonne valued at Rs 159.77 crore during April-June 2009-10. Coir rugs and carpet exports rose by 1,222 % in volume terms during the three-month period bringing in value increase of 549%. “This is significant considering the fact that the coir industry is currently facing a series of problems like shortage of coir fibre and skilled labour,” Board chairman V S Vijayaraghavan said. Export of coir fibres has increased by 330 % in both volume and value for the period. Coir rope export has been surprisingly high with an increase of 4,500% in volume and 5,717 % in value terms. Curled coir recorded an increase of 691 % during the period.

Meanwhile, export of raw fibre has created problems for the export-oriented units in Kerala. Huge quantities of coconut husk available in the Malabar region, which accounts for 60% of the state’s coconut production, is presently being procured by Tamil Nadu which exported substantial quantities of fibre and coir pith, particularly to China, resulting in cost escalation, sources said.

The industry has been facing shortage of raw material and skilled labour due to which it has been forced to source coir fibre for production of value added products from Tamil Nadu, especially Pollachi, Tenkasi, Cumbam, Theni and Nagercoil. The board has extended support to the Kerala government to revive defunct defibring units in Malabar region of Kerala and also identifying new sources of supply of fibre from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh as well.

Export of coir geo-textiles used for conservation of land has improved marginally with a rise of 24 % in volume. However, there are still several items like mats, matting and rubberised coir, which are stagnant or declining for several reasons, sources said. The National Rural Roads Development Authority has asked eight states, including Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil.

Source : financialexpress.com