India’s coir exports during the last financial year recorded a 17 per cent increase in value, largely due to higher exports of coir pith. The volume of exports increased by 20 per cent. India is the largest exporter of coir products such as mats, matting and rugs in the world. Coir pith is the top performer in terms of volume with a share of 54 per cent. Other products like coir geo-textiles, handloom mattings, tufted mats, power loom mats and coir rugs and carpets also showed a rising trend in exports.

Exports of items like curled coir, rubberised coir, power loom mattings and handloom mattings declined during the period. The US tops the list of countries in value terms of exports with nearly 26 per cent of the total realisation, while China, with 36 per cent of volume share, tops in that category. The US, China, Netherlands and South Korea are the main buyers of coir products from India.

However, coir is witnessing stiff competition from other mechanised products like PVC tufted mats. Coir is a natural fiber. Kerala is the home of the Indian coir industry. India supplies over 60 per cent of the world supply of white coir fiber.

A cotton and textile fair will be held in Uzbekistan on October 12 and 13, 2016. The aim is to expand and diversify Uzbek cotton’s export destinations, increase efficiency and optimize shipment of Uzbek cotton to the world market and become the basis for mutually beneficial cooperation between participants of the world cotton and textile industry. The cotton fair is expected to stimulate further development of market mechanisms in cotton trading and improve business relations between Uzbek producers and customers.

Participants will enjoy an opportunity to sign contracts for Uzbek cotton, set up long-term cooperation in cotton trading, as well as to be familiar with the quality of Uzbek cotton and the latest innovations in trade and logistics. Round tables and bilateral negotiations between Uzbek cotton exporters and consumers will be organized. Guests will have an opportunity to participate in the cotton trading session on the Uzbek commodity exchange.

Topics to be discussed include world cotton and textile market: demand and supply, prices and factors; current state and prospects of production and marketing of cotton in Uzbekistan; new technologies to increase cotton competitiveness; present and future of the world cotton textile market. Uzbekistan is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of cotton. The first such fair was conducted in 2005.