|
India:Silk industry sees continuous growth despite global challenges |
2004-10-27
|
 |
India’s silk export chalk continuous growth with ingenuity in design and products despite the global trend favouring artificial silk and a check on raw silk imports from China.
Exporters are finding it difficult to get quality raw materials in sufficient quantity to meet various oversees demand as anti-dumping measures on raw silk imports from China are in place.
Subhash Mittal, Chairman of the Indian Silk Export Promotion Council, said, "The initiation of anti-dumping measure against China has resulted in raw materials becoming more expensive and non-available in sufficient quantity for some time."
High quality raw silk''s indigenous availability currently does not match the demand despite efforts to raise production to meet the overseas requirement of better silk products made of longer yarn.
India also exports a whole range of silk products from garments to made-ups and fabrics including carpets.
"We feel that more raw silk could be coming in through illegal channels now that the legal channel is closed," Mittal added, India''s strength lies in value addition to imported long fibre silk.
"The Indian silk industry is continuing to witness around 15 percent growth despite several factors including changing global preference for artificial silk posing serious challenge. We are confident of achieving the $600 million target against $560 million last year," he said.
The export target does not include artificial silk products.
"The shift from pure to artificial silk has in fact given us a bit of a jolt," Mittal admitted.
Cost is the main factor behind the growing attraction for artificial silk. Also, dresses made of polyester or rayon silk blends have a good fall property and are less prone to creasing.
"Ours is a new creativity-driven growth through adoption of new designs and technology. As textile imports for exports have been liberalised, we are able to source good yarn and fabric to meet export demands," Mittal concluded.
|
|
|
|
|
|