Coir exports seem to be back on track with trade moving into the positive territory in the last two months.

Coir exports have been in depressed for most of 2009 with sales of traditional items like rugs, carpets and mats recording a decline. Exports were sustained by the liberal import of coir fibre and curled coir by China and Korea , which in turn were hurting the domestic manufacturing industry.

Figures provided by the state-run Coir Board for the first eight months of the 2009-10 financial year show that exports have eclipsed the performance of the same period of last fiscal.

The important factor has been the turnaround in the export of rugs, carpets and mats, board sources said.

Exports during April-November stood at 152,505 tonne valued at Rs 478.30 crore as against 124,250 tonne valued at Rs 410.48 crore during the same period of 2008-09.

The increase in volume was estimated to be around 22.74%, while the rise in value was estimated to be around 16.52%. Exports of coir mats have increased by 28% in volume and 20% in value during November, while during the month of October the increase recorded was 10% in volume and 5% in value.

Cumulatively for the first eight months, export of mats have moved into the positive territory by recording an increase of 9% in value while exports in volume terms was almost the same as last financial year. Similarly, rugs and carpets have also recorded an increase during the eight months helping the overall exports to record a significant rise.

The worrying factor is the continuing increase in export of coir fibre and curled coir. During the eight months to January, curled coir exports were higher by 330% in volume and 552 % in value.

On the other hand, export of coir fiber was higher by 278% in volume and 273 % in value for the same period.

Coir industry in India is dominated by about two hundred exporters and coir merchants who own composite or semi-composite units. Kerala is the major contributor to coir industry accounting for 70% of coconut fibre production. Sri Lanka, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam are the other important producers of coir and coir products.