Scope & HS codes

• Basketwork / Wickerwork (incl. many craft items, lampshades, trays, screens, small furniture frames made by plaiting): HS 4602 “Basketwork, wickerwork, and other articles… of vegetable materials,” with sub-lines for bamboo (4602.11) and rattan (4602.12).
  
• Chairs/Seats made of bamboo/rattan: HS 9401; in many customs schedules 9401.52 = seats of bamboo and 9401.53 = seats of rattan.
  
• Non-seat furniture of bamboo/rattan (tables, cabinets, shelves, etc.): commonly classified under HS 9403; in recent HS versions you’ll see 9403.81 “Furniture: of bamboo or rattan.” (Global product page shown below.)
  

Export snapshot

• India’s basketwork/wickerwork (HS 4602): ~US$166 million exports in 2023; India ranks among the top global suppliers. Main destinations include the US and EU markets.
  
• Furniture of bamboo/rattan (HS 9403.81) – global context: world trade was ~US$328 million in 2023. India is a modest exporter here relative to China, Indonesia and Vietnam (useful context when positioning Indian offers).
  
• Chairs/seating (HS 9401.52/.53): category exists specifically for bamboo/rattan seats in customs schedules (helps reduce classification disputes; check buyer country’s HTS mirror).
  

Practical takeaway: for most Indian cane & bamboo craft lines (baskets, woven décor, screens, lampshades, organizer sets), HS 4602 will cover the majority of SKUs; for chairs and tables, use 9401/9403 as above.

Quality & compliance – what top buyers look for

Material & processing

• Species & resource base: India hosts ~148 bamboo species in 29 genera (high diversity for material matching), and ~60 rattan (cane) species across 4–5 genera concentrated in the North-East, Western Ghats and Andaman & Nicobar—the traditional raw-material heartlands for craft‐grade cane.
  
• Preservative treatment: International best practice is boron (boric acid + borax) treatment of culms/strips, via immersion/diffusion (typical 2–6% solutions) to protect against borers and fungi; boron systems are widely cited as effective and lower-toxicity for indoor products.
  
  • Studies report improved durability classes and even better retained strength in boron-treated bamboo compared to some alternatives.
    
• Seasoning/moisture: Season to ~8–12% MC for indoor furniture to limit cracking and joint loosening; straightening/heat-setting and node work are standard in quality workshops (detailed in INBAR construction/furniture manuals).

Joinery & finishing (buyers’ QA notes)

• Joinery: pegged/lapped joints, lashings with split cane, or dowelled joints for rattan frames; for bamboo tables/shelves, use laminated bamboo boards or slatted panels with mechanical fasteners—methods documented in INBAR guides
  
• Finishes: clear PU or water-borne acrylics; for outdoor lines add UV-stable topcoats. (When composite boards are used, see formaldehyde limits below.)
  

Mechanical & safety standards (EU reference tests)

• EN 12520 (domestic seating) for strength/durability—common benchmark for chairs/stools.
  
• EN 581-1/-2 (outdoor seating/tables) for general safety & mechanical tests—relevant if you sell patio lines.
  

Chemicals / emissions (US/EU)

• If your furniture uses bamboo boards/mats/ply (composite wood), the US EPA TSCA Title VI formaldehyde rule applies (HWPW/particleboard/MDF limits; labeling & recordkeeping). Source only TSCA Title VI-compliant panels/adapters

Why India for cane & bamboo crafts

• Resource endowment: India’s bamboo stock and culm numbers have risen; total estimated bamboo green weight ~402 million tonnes (ISFR 2021). The North-East holds a very large share of bamboo-bearing area, powering raw-material security for clusters.
  
• Policy tailwind: Since 2017, bamboo grown outside forests is not legally treated as “tree” under the Indian Forest Act—easing felling/transit on private/non-forest lands and encouraging cultivation & supply chain growth (forest-grown bamboo remains regulated).
  
• Institutional support (NE India): The North East Cane & Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC)—formerly CBTC—serves as a Bamboo Technical Support Group under the National Bamboo Mission; it runs treatment plants, CFCs, and training for artisans and MSMEs across the region.
  
• National Bamboo Mission (NBM): Aims to expand plantations, upgrade processing, and build value-added product lines (e.g., laminated furniture, mat boards), with a strong focus on the North-East.
  

Key clusters & specialties

• Assam/Meghalaya/Tripura/Nagaland/Manipur (NE): Traditional hand-plaited baskets, storage, trays, room dividers, lampshades, lounge & patio frames, and jali-style panels; extensive trained artisan base via NECBDC/CFCs.
  
• Kerala–Tamil Nadu–Karnataka (Western Ghats belt): Strong rattan (Calamus) craft tradition for living-room sets and utility ware; Peninsular India’s rattan diversity is centered in Calamus spp.
  

Product strengths from India

• Hand-crafted look at scale: Thousands of MSME units enable design variety (from rustic to modern minimal), frequent small-batch refreshes, and private-label development—especially for 4602 décor lines. (NBM/NECBDC programs drive design upgrades and market linkages.)
• Sustainability story: Rapidly renewable raw material, expanding plantations (NBM), and non-toxic boron preservation routes suit eco-positioned ranges.
• Competitive landed cost on mixed FCLs of basketwork assortments (HS 4602), where India is already a significant exporter.
  

Buyer spec sheet

• Material: species (e.g., Bambusa balcooa, Dendrocalamus longispathus for strips; Calamus spp. for cane frames); confirm boron treatment and MC 8–12% for indoor items.
  
• Construction: joint type (pegged/dowelled, lashings), fasteners, load ratings; if outdoor, require EN 581-1/-2 conformity. For indoor chairs/stools, EN 12520 tests.
  
• Finish: water-borne/PU; UV topcoat for outdoor.
  
• Compliance: if any bamboo board/panel used, require TSCA Title VI documentation (US).
  
• Packaging: reinforced corrugate, corner protection (cane/rattan dent easily).
  
• HS declaration: per item—4602 for plaited crafts; 9401.52/.53 for seats; 9403.81 for other furniture.
  

Quick FAQ

Are cane/bamboo articles subject to wood-due-diligence rules?
They are generally treated as non-wood plant products (bamboo = grass; rattan = palm), but buyers still expect supply-chain documentation and chemical safety compliance; when composite boards are present, formaldehyde rules apply in the US.

Is raw material supply reliable from India?
Yes—India’s bamboo stock has increased; policy changes (2017 amendment) reduced transit/felling barriers for non-forest bamboo; and regional bodies (NECBDC/NBM) support treatment and cluster capacity.