Coir exports have registered an increase of 28 per cent in quantity and 30 per cent in value in the fiscal 2011-12 against the previous fiscal.

A total quantity of 4,10,853.90 tonnes of coir and coir products valued at Rs 1,052.62 crore was exported from the country during April 2011 to March 2012 against 3,21,016.02 tonnes valued at Rs 807.07 crore achieved during the corresponding period of previous fiscal.

The target fixed for coir and coir products for the year 2011-12 by the Ministry of MS&ME was Rs 850 crore. The achievement up to March 2012 during the year is 124 per cent of the target fixed by the government, a statement issued here said.

During the period, export of coir fibre, coir yarn, coir handloom matting, coir geo-textile, coir rope, curled coir, rubberized coir, coir pith and others had shown an increase both in terms of quantity and value when compared to the previous year.

Item such as coir rugs and carpets has shown negative growth both in terms of quantity and value. Coir handloom mat and tufted mats have shown a decrease in terms of quantity and an increase in terms of value.

Export of coir fibre increased from 83,393 tonne to 1,19684 tonnes in quantity (44 per cent ) and in terms of value, it increased from Rs 12,148.55 lakh to Rs 20,323.98 lakh (67 per cent).

Coir yarn exports increased from 5,021.96 tonnes to 5,562.87 tonnes in terms of quantity (11 per cent) and in terms of value it increased from Rs 2,685.34 lakh to Rs 3,140.70 lakh (17 per cent).

Handloom matting export increased from 1,406.49 tonnes to 1,473.78 tonne in terms of quantity (5 per cent) and in terms of value it increased from Rs 1,244.72 lakh to Rs 1,582.83 lakh (27 per cent).

The coir geo-textile export item has increased from 3,266.63 tonnes to 3,680.91 tonnes in quantity (13 per cent) and it increased in value from Rs 1,823.05 lakh to Rs 2,433.12 lakh (33 per cent).

Export of coir rope increased from 211.56 tonnes to 792.82 tonnes in quantity (275 per cent) and increased from Rs.86.72 lakhto Rs 340.99 lakh (293 per cent) in terms of value.

Coir pith, a major item among exports increased from 1,57,854.93 tonnes to 2,06,424.57 tonnes in quantity (31 per cent) and increased from Rs 14,829.02 lakh to Rs 22,150.70 lakh in value (49 per cent).

sajeevkumar@thehindu.co.in