Exports of pashmina from Nepal, has grown by double digit during the first two months of the current fiscal year that began on July 15 over the same period last year. Nepal’s pashmina exports to countries other than India shot up by 43.9 per cent during the two-month period with Germany, France, Italy, UK and US being the major destinations.

The registration of the chyangra pashmina trademark in 41 countries is one of the reasons for an increase in exports of Nepali pashmina products. Chyangra pashmina of Nepal is relatively expensive than those sourced from other countries, and hence its demand was affected due to economic slowdown in some EU countries.

Pashmina is extracted from the inner coats of the hardy mountain goats, locally known in Nepal as chyangra, which live at an altitude of above 3,000 meters in the Himalayas. Only the inner layer fibers measuring under 16.5 microns are specified for use as pashmina. 

The value of woolen carpet exports from Nepal also increased by 19.1 per cent year-on-year during the two-month period.