INDIAN COIR INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE IN 2022 - 2023 Coir is one of the oldest industries in India. It contributes significantly to the economy of the country’s major coconut-producing states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Assam, Orissa, Andaman & Nicobar, Pondicherry, Lakshadweep. India is the major global coconut producer and accounts for more than two third of the world’s coir and coir products production. India along with Sri Lanka accounts for about 90% of the total global coir fibre production. India produces about 280,000 metric tonnes (MT) of coir fibre annually.
The coir industry employs about 5.5 lakh (0.55 million) people in the country. Kerala accounts for about 61% of India’s coconut production, and 85% of coir products.
India produces coir fibre, yarn, mats, mattings, rugs, non-woven products, geotextiles, piths and other coir products. The coir pith, fibre and mats account for the majority of the coir exports out of India.
Coir ExportsExports of coir and coir products from India stood at US$ 362 million in FY23. The exports of coir and coir products stood at US$ 528.13 million in 2022. During the same period, the export quantity was 1.23 million metric tonnes (MMT), an increase of 6.2% year-on-year (YOY).
Coir pith is the largest exported coir product from India in 2022 with exports at US$ 274.91 million.
Over the period of 10 years (between 2012 to 2021), the exports of total coir and coir products from India have seen a CAGR of 15%.
India exports coir and coir products to more than 100 countries around the globe. Among these, USA, China, Netherlands, South Korea, UK, Spain, Australia, Italy, Germany, Canada, Belgium, France and Israel are some of the top importers. The USA is the largest importer of coir and coir products from India, accounting for 16.9% of the total quantity and 29.79% of the total value exported from India in 2022. China is the second largest importer, accounting for 19.82% of the value and 37.6% of the quantity.
For the coir pith products, the biggest importers were the USA, Netherlands, South Korea, China and Spain accounting for 66% of the total exports from India.
China is the largest importer of coir fibre from India, contributing to 96% of the total quantity and 95% of the total value exported out of the country in the current financial year.