Export of coir products by geotextiles suppliers from the country have risen by 21 per cent to 2.40 lakh tonnes in April- November 2011, the Coir Board of India said.
The value of shipments by coir mats exporters rose by 17 per cent to Rs 561.85 crore in the same period, it said. The country had exported 1.98 lakh tonnes of coir and coir products in the year-ago period, whereas the value of shipments stood at Rs 478.32 crore.
Coir, the outer coating of skin that encircles the conch of coconut, is used to make rope, mattress, coir rugs and coir carpets among others. Coir product making is an important cottage industry, contributing significantly to the economy of the major coconut growing states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
India exports coir and its products to over 97 countries across the world with the US being the largest market. Countries like the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Australia, France, Spain, Canada, Japan, Greece, Sweden, South Africa, UAE, Portugal, and Denmark are the other major markets of coir and coir products.
Export of coir and its products from India had touched an all time high of 3.21 lakh tonnes valued at Rs 807.07 crore during the 2010-2011 financial year. The Coir Board has set an export target of Rs 2,000 crore for the 12th five year plan period (2012-2017).
India and Sri Lanka are two major coir producers in the world and account for around 90 per cent of about 3.50 lakh tonnes global production of the item.
Since 1997
