Export scale & top destination markets (key facts)

• Size & trend: India is a global leader in handmade carpet exports — carpet export value for FY2023–24 was about USD 1.36–1.39 billion, and FY25 (Apr–Dec 2024) exports were already running ~USD 1.24 billion (showing continuing strong activity). India accounts for a very large share of global handmade carpet exports.
• Top markets: The United States is the largest buyer (often ~30–40%+ share for hand-woven rugs), followed by European markets (UK, Germany, Netherlands) and Gulf/Middle East buyers. Shipment-level dashboards show hundreds–thousands of shipments annually from Indian clusters to these markets.

Where they’re made — key clusters in India

• Bhadohi / Mirzapur (UP) — the single largest handmade carpet hub (often called “Carpet City”), historically responsible for a major share (many reports say ~40–60% of India’s carpet exports originate here). The cluster employs hundreds of thousands to millions of artisans and hosts most export-oriented manufacturers.
• Srinagar (Kashmir) — renowned for fine silk and Kashmiri designs (higher-end, hand-knotted work).
• Jaipur / Bhuj / Panipat / Agra — important centres for dhurries (flatweaves), tufted rugs, and finishing/processing.

Product types commonly exported

• Hand-knotted wool rugs (Persian/Oriental styles) — highest value and export volume within handmade segment.
• Hand-tufted rugs — faster production, mid-market pricing.
• Flatweave dhurries & kilims — durable, reversible floorcoverings for casual/contract markets.
• Silk & silk-blend rugs — premium, fine-knot specialty pieces (often from Kashmir/Jaipur).
• Customized contract/large-format carpets for hospitality and commercial projects.

Buyer quality markers (what importers check / how to describe)

• Knot density (KPSI / knots per sq.in.) — single best structural indicator for hand-knotted quality (higher KPSI → finer, more detailed work and higher durability). Provide KPSI and sample close-up images.
• Material & fibre origin — 100% New Zealand / Persian wool vs. local wool; pure mulberry silk vs. blended; jute/coir for floor mats. Specify fibre grade and origin.
• Pile & foundation — pile height, pile type (cut/loop), warp/weft (cotton, jute), foundation density.
• Dyes & colourfastness — natural dyes vs. reactive/acid/synthetic; provide test reports for colourfastness and wash/bleach resistance.
• Finish & trimming — fringe finish, edge binding, backing and anti-slip/underlay recommendations.
• Certificates / lab tests — colourfastness, rubbing/wear tests, VOC tests if using chemical finishes; for higher-value exports include any product lab reports.

India-specific strengths

• Deep artisanal skill & design capability: centuries of weaving tradition plus ability to replicate a wide variety of Persian, Kashmiri and contemporary designs at scale (fine hand-knotting expertise in Bhadohi/Srinagar).
• Large, export-oriented cluster eco-system: weaving, dye houses, washing/finishing units, quality labs and exporters are co-located (shorter sample/iteration cycles; easier custom work). Bhadohi’s infrastructure and expo facilities are explicitly geared to exports.
• Competitive labour economics for value-added handwork: India can produce high-quality hand-knotted rugs at lower landed costs than many Western makers — attractive for boutique retailers and contract buyers seeking customization at reasonable MOQs.
• Range across price tiers: from low-cost flatweaves and tufted rugs to premium fine-knot wool/silk rugs — useful to buyers who want multiple tiers from one sourcing market.

Weaknesses, structural risks & recent shocks (be transparent)

• Tariff / market access risk: Recent policy actions (for example, reported US tariffs and temporary hold on many US orders) have significantly affected volumes for some exporters and created short-term order cancellations/holdups. This is a live risk for India-centric sourcing to the US market.
• Quality inconsistency at scale: handcrafted work varies; buyers need robust sampling, pre-production approvals and inline QA to ensure repeatability.
• Component / input dependency: high-grade wools or speciality silks are sometimes imported; price/availability of these inputs can affect margins.
• Competition from low-cost machine carpets / other exporters: Turkey, Pakistan, China and Egypt compete on price and are sometimes favoured where tariffs or lead times change.

Practical positioning — what to show in B2B listings

• Title & short specs: “Hand-knotted 100% NZ Wool Area Rug — 120 KPSI — 9’×12’ — Natural Dyes (Sample Avail.)”
• Mandatory fields: knot density (KPSI), fibre & origin, pile height, pile type, foundation (warp/weft), dye type, wash instructions, sample lead time, MOQ, FOB/CIF price bands, packaging (rolled/crate), and QC/inspection options.
• Value adds to highlight: custom design & colour matching, contract / hospitality finishing, fire retardant treatment (if supplied), lab test attachments (colourfastness, VOC), references for previous export customers.

Quick source list

• India export & market snapshot — IBEF / “Carpet Industry in India” (export values FY24 & FY25 Apr–Dec 2024).
• Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) — industry overview, cluster reports, annual report (CEPC is the official export council).
• HS / trade dashboards — breakdown by HS (knotted carpets etc.) and destination shares (Trendeconomy / WITS / OEC).
• Cluster & background: Bhadohi / Mirzapur cluster profiles and industry notes (CEPC / DSource).
• Recent market news & trade risks (tariff developments affecting orders to the US): Times of India reporting.