What they are

• Sikki Grass Craft: golden-hued baskets, boxes (e.g., pauti), trays and ornaments made by coiling sikki grass around a munj/khar core and stitching with a single iron awl (takua). Traditionally practised by women across Sitamarhi, Madhubani and Darbhanga in the Mithila region. Recognised as a Geographical Indication “Sikki Grass Products of Bihar.”
  
• Handloom Carpets: includes hand-knotted rugs (KPSI-graded), flatweaves (dhurries/kilims), and hand-tufted rugs made across India; the Bhadohi–Mirzapur–Varanasi belt in Uttar Pradesh is the largest cluster (GI: Handmade Carpet of Bhadohi), while Panipat in Haryana is famed for handloom dhurries and home textiles.
  

Export snapshot (HS mapping)

Sikki Grass Craft

• Likely HS code: 4602 (Basketwork, wickerwork and other plaited articles of vegetable materials). This is the line most importers use for baskets/boxes made from grasses (country-specific subheadings apply). Public dashboards aggregate 4602 at category level (not “sikki” specifically).
  

Handloom Carpets

• HS codes: 5701 (hand-knotted), 5702 (woven, not tufted – includes kilims/dhurries), 5703 (tufted), 5705 (“other”; includes certain dhurries/mats).
  
• India’s carpet exports: US$ 1.39 billion in FY24; US$ 1.24 billion (Apr–Dec FY25). Major buyers: USA (~70%), Germany, UK, Netherlands, Sweden.
  
• FY25 full-year update (all textiles) from Government sources corroborates continued growth; carpet line items are routinely reported by DGCI&S/PIB and CEPC.
  

Note: 4602 (basketware) exports are comparatively small and not split by “sikki” in public stats; collectors typically use shipment-level data to size this niche.

Quality, grading & compliance

Sikki Grass Craft — product & process quality

• Material & technique: fine sikki sheaths (flower discarded) are shaved, dampened and coiled over a munj/khar core; stitched using a takua. The natural golden colour is a hallmark; fast-colour dyeing is traditional for patterns.
  
• What buyers look for: tight, even coils; clean joins; colourfast dyed accents; low moisture (mould-free); shape stability. GI documentation describes the traditional coiling/finishing and geography.
  
• Chemicals: for dyed components supplied to the EU, buyers often require REACH compliance (notably azo-amines restrictions, Annex XVII) even for craft items; many request an azo-free declaration/test.
  

Handloom Carpets — product & process quality

• Hand-knotted grading: KPSI (knots per square inch) drives fineness and price; CEPC notes Indian fine rugs commonly reach ~324–900 KPSI.
• Flatweaves/dhurries: punja-loom structure, weft-faced; Panipat documentation (Govt-sponsored) covers technique and design innovation.
• Testing & regulatory:
  
  • USA: carpets/rugs must meet 16 CFR 1630/1631 flammability (pill test) with testing/records; small rugs have specific labelling if they fail.
  • EU & many retailers globally: floor coverings often tested to ISO 9239-1 (reaction to fire—radiant panel).
  • Chemicals: market access commonly requires REACH conformity (azo dyes and other restricted substances) for dyed yarns/backings/finishes.
    

Region-specific strengths

Mithila (Bihar) — Sikki Grass Craft

• Place-based material: sikki grows in wetlands of North Bihar (Koshi belt); craft is deeply embedded in Mithila customs (e.g., gifting pauti boxes). GI filings and Bihar’s craft bodies document the practice and geography.
  
• GI protection: “Sikki Grass Products of Bihar” provides legal identity and traceability for products from Sitamarhi, Madhubani & Darbhanga.

Bhadohi–Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh) — Hand-knotted carpets

• Scale & reputation: South Asia’s largest hand-knotted hub; GI tag (2010) for Handmade Carpet of Bhadohi; CEPC’s dedicated Carpet Expo Mart supports ~800 exporters and ~1 million weavers in the belt.
  

Panipat (Haryana) — Handloom dhurries/home textiles

• Cluster focus: historic “City of Weavers,” strong specialisation in handloom dhurries and allied floor textiles; government-sponsored documentation covers technique and revival initiatives.
  

Practical export guidance

Sikki Grass Craft (HS 4602)

• Positioning: eco-friendly, lightweight, bio-based craft with GI backstory; ideal for home décor and giftware. Include origin story and GI mention in product cards.
  
• Specs to standardise: diameter/height tolerances; coil width; moisture threshold; colourfastness of dyed motifs (buyer-requested tests for azo-amines where applicable).
  
• Packaging: breathable inner wrap + desiccants; avoid crushing (nested sets with spacers).
  

Handloom Carpets (HS 5701/5702/5703/5705)

• Specs to quote: construction (knotted/flatweave/tufted), KPSI (knotted), pile height, yarn/fibre, backing/latex (tufted), weight (kg/m²), size, and testing plan (16 CFR 1630/1631 for US; ISO 9239-1 where specified).
  
• Market focus: the USA remains the anchor market for Indian handmade carpets; Germany/UK are key in Europe. Use CEPC/ICE shows and the Bhadohi mart for buyer outreach.
  

One-page fact bites you can reuse

• Sikki (Bihar): GI-recognised craft using sikki grass coiled over munj/khar, stitched with a takua; core districts Sitamarhi–Madhubani–Darbhanga.
  
• Carpets (India): US$ 1.39 bn exports in FY24; India supplies ~40% of global handmade carpets; top buyer USA. GI-recognised clusters include Bhadohi and Kashmir; Panipat leads in handloom dhurri