India's handicraft export grew by about 19 per cent to over $154.16 million in May over the year-ago period, thanks to the increasing demand from the US market.
The handicraft export stood at $129.60 in the same period last fiscal, according to the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts data.
"Due to slump in the economy the orders were really low. But now the US buyers are placing good number of orders as their inventories are almost over," Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts Chairman Raj Malhotra said.
Besides major markets like the US and Europe, the handicraft exporters are also focusing on new markets like Latin America.
"We have also started getting orders from new markets like Latin America and China," added Malhotra.
Among items that registered maximum growth are imitation jewellery which grew by about 26 per cent, followed by woodware 24.27 per cent, shawls as artwares 22.39 per cent, zari and zari products 19.23 per cent and artmetal ware 17.07 per cent.
After 11 months of contraction since October 2008, export from the handicraft sector turned positive in September 2009, registering a growth of over 160 per cent compared to September 2008.
The US and EU together account for 70 per cent of the country's handicraft export.
Moradabad, Jaipur, Saharanpur, Jodhpur and Narsapur are the major handicraft hubs catering to world markets and employ about 1 million people.
