Export snapshot

• HS 8215 (spoons, forks, ladles & similar tableware): India exported ~US$70 million in 2023. Top buyers: USA (~US$21 m, 30%), UAE (8.5%), Australia (7.7%), UK (6.1%), Germany (3.0%), Netherlands (2.8%).
  
• HS 8211 (knives with cutting blades): India’s 2023 exports were ~US$20.1 million (OEC). Main partners: USA (~US$12 m), Japan (~US$2.2 m), Australia (~US$0.75 m). (Methodologies differ; TrendEconomy shows a slightly lower total.)
  
• Handicrafts context (where metal craft sits): India’s handicraft exports were ~US$3.8 bn in FY24 (EPCH/IBEF).
  

What the sub-categories are & how India makes them special

A) Handcrafted Steel Cutlery (stainless)

• Material reality: Indian makers work primarily with 18/10 (AISI 304) and 18/0 (AISI 430) for spoons/forks, and martensitic grades (AISI 420/410) for knives (hardenable). 18/10 has better corrosion resistance; 18/0 is nickel-free and budget-friendly.
  
• Blade performance: ISO cutlery standards require minimum blade hardness for martensitic stainless knife blades (≥~50 HRC in ISO 8442 family) and define sharpness/edge-retention tests (ISO 8442-5).
• Where in India:
  
  • Moradabad (U.P.) – massive metal-craft ecosystem (tooling, finishing, plating, testing), long branded as Brass City with dedicated testing/lab support (MHSC, NABL/CPSC-listed). Great for mixed-material, hammered, etched, or PVD-colored flatware.
    
  • Jagadhri/Yamunanagar (Haryana) – legacy cluster for brass & stainless utensils, feeding components and know-how into tableware/cutlery value chains.
    
  • Saharanpur (U.P.) – wood-carving hub that partners on wood-handled knives/steak sets.
    
• Why India: dense craft clusters = small MOQs, hand-finishing at scale, and rapid design prototyping (die-making, forging, polishing, PVD, wood handle work) within a single catchment (Moradabad-Saharanpur-Yamunanagar belt).
  

B) Brass-Coated Cutlery (gold/brass finish on stainless)

• What it really is: Most “brass” looks are PVD coatings (e.g., TiN “gold”) or lacquered “brass finish” applied over stainless cores—preferred so food-contact areas remain stainless while giving a warm brass tone. (Finish suppliers stress PVD’s hardness/corrosion benefits vs. electroplating.)
  
• Why India: Moradabad specializes in decorative metal finishes (PVD, electroplating, antiquing) and Jamnagar’s brass-parts ecosystem supplies knobs/ferrules/bolsters for mixed-material sets—shortening lead-times and cost.

Quality & compliance

• Standards to cite in POs/specs
  
  • ISO 8442 series (cutlery & table holloware): materials requirements, corrosion, blade sharpness/edge retention (esp. ISO 8442-1 & -5). BIS has adopted IS 15104 (Part 1):2002, harmonized to ISO 8442-1.
    
  • EU food-contact: use the Council of Europe/EDQM Technical Guide for Metals & Alloys (2024, 2nd ed.) for Specific Release Limits (SRLs) and Declaration of Compliance expectations.
    
  • US: FDA Food Code 2022—notably 4-101.14: copper and copper alloys (incl. brass) must not contact foods with pH < 6 (e.g., vinegar, citrus)—hence keep brass only on non-contact areas or use compliant barriers/PVD.
    
• Material call-outs
  
  • Flatware: 18/10 or 18/8 for spoons/forks (corrosion resistance), 18/0 when nickel-free is required. Knives: 420/410, heat-treated to ≥50 HRC; specify blade geometry per ISO 8442-5 for edge retention.
    
  • Brass-look: Prefer PVD “gold/brass” over actual brass on food-contact zones; if brass is used (handles/bolsters), verify lead & nickel release versus destination-market rules (EDQM SRLs / DoC).
    
• Testing in India
  
  • MHSC Moradabad (Govt. of India) offers corrosion/salt-spray, coating thickness/adhesion, and metal leachate tests; it’s NABL accredited and listed by US CPSC. Useful for pre-shipment compliance.
    

India-specific strengths you can lean on

• Clustered supply chains (Moradabad metal finishing + Saharanpur wood + Jagadhri utensils + Jamnagar brass components) lower coordination costs and enable handcrafted aesthetics with industrial repeatability.
  
• Export orientation: Stable demand from US/EU/Australia in HS 8215; growing niche buyers for forged/hand-finished HS 8211 knives.
  
• Institutional support: EPCH and MHSC provide trade fairs, testing, and design support; ODOP branding underpins district-craft credibility for sourcing stories.
  

Quick sourcing checklist

1. Grade: 18/10 (304) for spoons/forks; 420/410 for knives with target ≥50 HRC.
   
2. Finish: If “brass”, ask for PVD on stainless for food-contact faces; avoid bare brass on bowls/tines/blade edges (FDA Food Code pH rule).
   
3. Standards: Reference ISO 8442-1/-5 (or IS 15104 Part 1) + EDQM Metals & Alloys; request Declaration of Compliance and lab reports (MHSC acceptable).