A 26 per cent reciprocal tariff imposed by the US on Indian goods has further strained the already struggling Kashmiri handicrafts sector.
| Photo Credit:
NISSAR AHMAD
The Valley’s famed carpet industry is struggling for orders with the Russia-Ukraine conflict leading to dip in demand.
Once a major destination for Kashmiri hand-knotted silk carpets, Russia and several European countries have scaled back imports. According to the Valley-based exporters, carpet trade volume has plummeted by more than 70 percent.
Sheikh Ashiq, a prominent carpet exporter and former president of Chamber of Commerce and Industries ( KCCI) told businessline that carpet industry had taken a hit due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Adding to the woes, a 26 percent reciprocal tariff imposed by the US on Indian goods has further strained the already struggling Kashmiri handicrafts sector.
Demand drop
“Russia is our identified market. High-value hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets have a strong presence there, but ever since the war began, demand has dropped drastically. Buyers are holding back their orders”, he said.
Ashiq described 2024 as one of the most difficult years the industry has faced.
A senior official at the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom said that the ongoing global conflicts in Europe and the Middle East have had a noticeable impact on the industry.
In 2017, Kashmir’s handmade carpet industry was at its peak, with exports reaching ₹821.50 crore, making it the region’s leading export sector. Since then, the industry has seen a significant downturn. By the financial year 2023–24, carpet exports had declined sharply to ₹317 crore.
As demand for Kashmiri silk carpets continues to fall, the number of exporters engaged in the trade has also significantly decreased.
“There used to be 20 to 30 carpet exporters. Now that number has come down to just four or five,”,said Ashiq.
Javed Ahmad Tenga, president Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries said that buyers in the US and other countries had held off shipments following the introduction of tariffs.
“Given the current situation, we have decided to seek interest subvention from the government,” he said.
The roots
The tradition of hand-knotted carpets in Kashmir traces its roots back to the 15th century, when, during the reign of Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, skilled weavers from Persia and Central Asia arrived and trained local artisans. According to the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (2016–17), Budgam district has the highest number of carpet units, with 634 recorded.
Published on April 9, 2025
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