By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, FEB 10, 2021: DESPITE the COVID-19 pandemic, the export of coir and its products during the first half of 2020-21 increased to Rs. 1662.43 crore with an increase of around Rs. 300 crore from the corresponding period in the previous fiscal, said the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises on Tuesday.

"This is the highest half year figure ever recorded in the history of the Coir Board," said the ministry.

The total exports of coir and its products for April-September 2019-20 were worth Rs. 1361.45 crore. During the H1 of 2020-21, their sale grew to 5,43,393 tonne as against 4,93,399 tonne exported during the same period in the previous fiscal.

"The increase, in value, works out to be 22.1 per cent and, in terms of quantity, 10.1 per cent when compared to the corresponding figures of the previous year. The trend shows that coir exports will cross all the records by the end of this year," it added.

Coir pith raked in Rs. 835.26 crore, making 50 per cent of the total exports, while coir fibre with sales of Rs. 303.69 crore constituted 18 per cent.

The value-added items put together made 31 per cent of the total exports, with tufted mats topping it.

During the first half of the year 2020-21, 97 countries imported coir and coir products from India, said the ministry.

The United States topped the importing countries with 30 per cent in value and 17 per cent in quantity. China is the second-largest importer with a share of 23 per cent in value and 37 per cent in quantity.

The Netherlands, UK, South Korea, Spain, Australia, Italy, Germany and Canada imported substantial quantities of coir and its products during the period.

"The work from home nature of the European/US countries caused increase in exports of coir floor coverings and coir pith. During the post lock-down, most of the units are running more than the capacity to cater to the demand," it added.

In domestic markets, the Coir Board showrooms achieved a total sale of Rs 691.69 lakhs.

The total production of coir and coir products was 4,40,000 tonne in April-September this fiscal.