Snapshot of export scale & HS codes

• India’s “Other articles of copper” (HS 7419) exports were ~US$338 m in 2023; top market the U.S. (34%), followed by Indonesia, Colombia, UAE, Germany and the UK. TrendEconomy
  
• Base-metal ornaments / frames (HS 8306)—the line many décor pieces ship under—show India exports of ~US$31 m in 2023, with the U.S. ~50% of demand. Note: other datasets (OEC) report a higher figure due to different methods; use both when sizing. TrendEconomyThe Observatory of Economic Complexity
  
• Lamps & light fittings (HS 9405), often brass/copper with mixed materials, account for a small share of India’s exports; Trendeconomy places 2023 exports of this group at ~0.07% of India’s total merchandise exports. TrendEconomy
  

Many brass/copper décor shipments are classified under HS 7419, HS 8306, and (when electrified) HS 9405. Use these three to monitor volumes and destinations.

A. Moradabad (“Brass City”), Uttar Pradesh

Why it’s India-specific:
Moradabad is a government-recognized mega craft/ODOP cluster for Metal Craft, with dense supplier networks for casting, spinning, chasing/embossing, electroplating, powder-coating and lacquering—plus an on-site Metal Handicrafts Service Centre (MHSC) for finishing & testing. It’s formally designated a “Town of Export Excellence” under India’s 2023 Foreign Trade Policy. OdopupHandicrafts+1Press Information Bureau

Scale & products:
The district reports ~600 export units and ~9,000 industries, exporting ~₹4,500 crore annually (home décor such as lanterns, trays, planters, vases, idols). Key buyers include the U.S., UK, Germany, Canada, Middle East. Moradabad

Quality strengths (buyer-relevant):

• Finish breadth & repeatability: sand/die/spin casting + sheet-metal forming; antique, brushed, hammered, etched; clear lacquers and powder coats; nickel/chrome/copper/silver plating—supported by MHSC testing/finishing facilities in Moradabad. Metal Finish and Design+1
  
• Compliance readiness: exporters commonly serve the EU/US; for metal décor/jewellery components with skin contact, India suppliers align with REACH Annex XVII (e.g., lead restrictions in articles; nickel release where skin contact applies). Chemexcil
  
• Process QA you can specify: coating adhesion by ASTM D3359 tape test; corrosion resistance by ISO 9227 (NSS/AASS/CASS) for plated/lacquered finishes—widely recognized benchmarks your labs/3Ps can run. ASTM International | ASTMISO
  

Export positioning:
Moradabad producers sell across HS 7419/8306/9405 depending on the article. India’s 7419 exports are materially larger than 8306, so copper-heavy décor and tableware will often dominate your category sizing; the U.S. is the lead destination for both lines. TrendEconomy+1

B. Bidriware (Bidar, Karnataka) — “silver on black” inlay

What it is & why it’s unique to India:
Bidriware is a Deccan craft from Bidar, made by inlaying pure silver into cast white-brass (zinc-rich) forms and developing a deep black patina using a traditional alkaline-nitrate soil from Bidar Fort, creating the classic black-and-silver contrast. It holds an Indian Geographical Indication (GI) – Application No. 20. IBEFBidar District, Government of KarnatakaIntellectual Property India

Typical classifications & export context:
Finished Bidri décor is usually cleared as HS 8306 (base-metal ornaments/frames); some items (especially jewellery) can fall under other headings, but 8306 is the most practical line to watch for exports. India’s 2023 8306 exports are ~US$31 m overall (Bidri is a niche share within that). CBIC GSTTrendEconomy

Note: Because Bidri uses a zinc-rich alloy, you’ll also see references to HS 7907 (Other articles of zinc) in classification discussions, but India’s 7907 exports are ~US$10 m in total, covering many non-Bidri goods. TrendEconomyWorld Integrated Trade Solution

Quality strengths (buyer-relevant):

• Aesthetic & heritage value: high-contrast silver inlay, Persian-Deccan motifs, and a region-specific blackening process tied to Bidar’s soil chemistry—a differentiator for premium décor/gifting. IBEF
  
• Workmanship checks: verify inlay depth/flushness, uniform patina without brown/red blooms, and even burnish on silver; for jewellery/skin-contact items, specify nickel-release and lead compliance per REACH Annex XVII. Chemexcil
  

How to brief suppliers (actionable)

• HS lines to quote/track: 7419 (copper décor), 8306 (base-metal ornaments/frames), 9405 (metal lighting). Use India’s 2023 baselines above for market sizing and route-to-market planning. TrendEconomy+2TrendEconomy+2
  
• QC test callouts: request ASTM D3359 adhesion on coated/lacquered brass/copper; ISO 9227 salt-spray hours for plated finishes (NSS for lacquer, CASS for copper-nickel-chrome stacks). ASTM International | ASTMISO
  
• Cluster advantages: leverage Moradabad’s MHSC for finishing advice and testing, and its TEE/ODOP status for smoother export facilitation and supplier depth. HandicraftsPress Information BureauOdopup