Where it comes from & why it’s distinctive
- Jodhpur, Rajasthan is India’s biggest wooden furniture/wood-craft export hub—supplying rustic, solid-wood case goods (mango/acacia/sheesham), distressed/antique finishes, and wood-iron mixes. A Forest Trends review notes Jodhpur’s strong presence in international wooden furniture markets and estimates it accounted for >50% of India’s 940360 furniture exports to the US & EU/EFTA in 2019.
- Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh specializes in intricate wood carving (screens, panels, decor, occasional furniture) and carries a registered Geographical Indication (GI): “Saharanpur Wood Craft.”
Export picture
- India’s 2023 exports of HS 940360: US$654.4 million, led by United States (US$324.6m), followed by the Netherlands, Germany, France, UK.
- Broader furniture category HS 9403 (all materials) from India was US$1.13b in 2023 (context for category size).
- Sector institutions you’ll interface with: EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts) and IHGF Delhi Fair (largest sourcing fair for this category).
Buyer specs & quality benchmarks
Wood & prep
- Preferred export timbers: mango and acacia (widely used in Jodhpur exports); sheesham/rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo) used selectively due to CITES (see compliance). USDA’s India wood market brief also notes growing reliance on imported, certifiable species for export.
- Moisture content (MC): target 8–12% for indoor furniture. Indian BIS IS 287 provides the national reference for permissible MC of timber by use/location—specify kiln-drying to your target MC and verify with calibrated meters.
- Joinery & construction: mortise-tenon or dowel for frames; allowance for wood movement (floating panels); anti-warp design for wide tops. (Best practice, aligns with IS 287 rationale.)
Finishes
- Oil/wax for rustic lines; PU/NC lacquers for commercial durability. Require finish tests (adhesion, stain resistance) inline with your internal QA; (India lacks a single furniture-specific BIS finish spec—buyers usually reference their in-house protocols.)
Hardware & packaging
- Zinc-plated/SS hardware in humid destinations; drop-test-rated cartons + fumigated/ISPM-15 pallets (standard export practice). (Trade practice; align with your brand’s packaging SOPs.)
Compliance to build into contracts
- CITES (rosewoods/Dalbergia spp.): All Dalbergia (except D. nigra which is Appendix I) are Appendix II with Annotation #15. Exemptions cover finished musical instruments and finished products up to 10 kg of listed wood per shipment—not typical furniture. If any part uses sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), you’ll need full CITES documentation for export to sensitive markets; many buyers simply specify non-CITES species.
- US formaldehyde limits (TSCA Title VI) apply if any MDF/particleboard/ply is used (drawer bottoms, back panels, packing parts). Emission limits: HWPW 0.05 ppm; MDF 0.11; thin MDF 0.13; PB 0.09. Require TSCA Title VI labeling/certificates from an EPA-recognized TPC.
- EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): the EU formally delayed the application; large operators now apply from 30 Dec 2025 (previously 2024), SMEs from 30 Jun 2026. Your EU POs should require geolocation + due-diligence statements for any wood.
- Chain-of-custody: request FSC certification where available (or equivalent), especially for EU/UK programs.
Why India/Jodhpur-Saharanpur is strong
- Cluster depth: dense ecosystem of sawmills, kilns, metalwork, finishing units, and export-seasoned QA teams in Jodhpur; elite hand-carving talent in Saharanpur (GI).
- Design language: India leads in hand-distressed, ethnic/rustic looks with real solid wood at price-points where many competitors shift to veneers/engineered wood.
Quick buyer checklist
Species + origin (avoid Dalbergia unless fully permitted); 2) Kiln-drying to 8–12% MC (IS 287 reference); 3) Construction drawings & joinery callouts; 4) Finish specs & test plan; 5) TSCA Title VI docs for any composite wood; 6) FSC CoC where required; 7) Drop-test-rated export pack; 8) Factory social/safety audit window.
