What’s in scope

• Hand-knotted wool/silk rugs (HS 5701), woven flatweaves/dhurries (HS 5702/5705), and hand-tufted rugs (HS 5703). See HS chapter 57 list for definitions.
  

Export snapshot

• India’s carpet & floor-covering exports: US$ 1.39 bn in FY24; US$ 1.24 bn in Apr–Dec FY25, with ~40% of global handmade carpet exports attributed to India. Primary markets remain the US & Europe.
  
• For wool, knotted carpets (HS 570110) specifically, 2023 exports ~US$215.6 m; top destination USA (about US$159.5 m; ~2.07 million m²).
  
• Market note (context): recent news reports flag new US tariffs impacting India’s handmade carpet orders from the Bhadohi–Mirzapur belt; stakeholders (CEPC) are seeking relief. Keep monitoring if you sell into the US.

Quality benchmarks buyers ask for

• Base construction
  
  • Hand-knotted: knot density (KPSI), construction (Persian/Tibetan), pile fiber (wool/silk), foundation (cotton/silk). Kashmir pieces range ~200–900 KPSI at the top end.
    
  • Hand-tufted: pile weight, pile height, latex/backing strength; refer IS 5884:2020 (India) for tufted carpet specifications.
    
  • Handmade wool carpets in general: IS 5641 (BIS) referenced for government procurement/specs
    
• Color fastness: ISO 105-X12 (rubbing/crocking) is the global reference for pile and flatweaves.
• EU compliance: textile floor coverings typically require CE marking per EN 14041 (essential characteristics like reaction-to-fire, emissions, electrical behavior). Note: some editions exclude loose-laid rugs—importers must confirm scope.
• US compliance: 16 CFR 1630/1631 flammability rules for carpets/rugs.
• Chemicals: EU REACH restrictions (e.g., azo dyes) apply to dyeing/finishing of rugs for EU markets.
• Social/ethical (commonly requested): GoodWeave (child-labor-free) and SA8000 (social accountability) are widely recognized on Indian rugs.
  

What’s uniquely Indian: regions, specializations & strengths

Kashmir (Srinagar & surroundings — J&K)

• Signature: very fine hand-knotted wool & silk rugs (often Persian motifs), exceptionally high KPSI; GI-tagged “Kashmir Hand-Knotted Carpet.” Since 2022, QR-coded GI labels allow buyers to verify origin, KPSI, materials, artisan/producer. Strength = authenticity + traceability for premium buyers.
  

Bhadohi–Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh)

• Signature: India’s largest handmade carpet hub (“Carpet City”), producing hand-knotted and hand-tufted wool rugs at scale; deep vendor ecosystem (design, washing, finishing). Recognized under ODOP; long-running mega-cluster and CEPC initiatives support skill & infra. Strength = capacity, variety, and competitive lead times.
  

Jaipur & Rajasthan belt

• Signature: high-end hand-knotted wool/silk rugs and flatweaves, a dense artisan network and export-oriented production. Strength = design leadership fused with traditional techniques (Persian/Tibetan knots, kilims).
  

Panipat (Haryana)

• Signature: large handloom home-furnishing cluster (dhurries, shag/flatwoven rugs, recycled-yarn weaves); multiple government-backed cluster CFCs (design & printing). Strength = cost-effective flatweaves and custom developments
  

Warangal (Telangana)

• Signature: GI-tagged Warangal Dhurries (cotton flatweaves via interlocked-weft/panja technique; bold geometrics and kalamkari-influenced prints). Strength = authentic GI-backed flatweaves with a distinctive South-Indian aesthetic.
  

Data points buyers cite (by code / product)

• HS 570110 (knotted, of wool/fine hair): US$ 215.6 m in 2023, led by USA; position India among top global suppliers for hand-knotted wool rugs.
  
• All carpets & floor coverings (all HS 57): US$ 1.39 bn (FY24); US$ 1.24 bn (Apr–Dec FY25); India accounts for ~40% of global handmade carpet exports.
  

Compliance & trust marks that add value to Indian rugs

• GI & QR (Kashmir): on-label QR verifies origin, KPSI, material, maker—useful for premium listings and anti-counterfeit assurance.
  
• GoodWeave: independent, unannounced inspections across factories & homes; serialized labels; recognized by US Dept. of Labor.
  
• SA8000: widely used by leading Indian exporters to document social accountability systems for large retail programs.
  

Practical spec sheet (what to ask suppliers)

• Construction & density: weave type (knotted/Tibetan/Persian; flatweave/dhurrie; tufted), KPSI or tufts/m², pile height, pile weight, foundation yarns. (Map to IS 5641 / IS 5884 where applicable.)
  
• Fibres & dyes: wool origin (e.g., fine wool grades), any silk/viscose blends; AZO-free/REACH-conforming dyestuffs for EU.
  
• Performance tests: ISO 105-X12 (dry/wet crocking); light fastness (ISO 105-B02), dimensional stability; flammability per target market (16 CFR 1630/1631 US; EN 14041/DoP for EU when in scope)
  
• Labelling & ethics: GoodWeave/SA8000 certificates; for Kashmir pieces, GI-QR copy
  

Why source this category from India?

• Depth & diversity of clusters (Bhadohi–Mirzapur, Kashmir, Jaipur, Panipat, Warangal) spanning everything from ultra-fine silk/wool knotted rugs to cost-efficient flatweaves—reliably at scale.
  
• Authenticity infrastructure: GI protections (Kashmir carpets; Warangal dhurries) and QR traceability give buyers a verifiable story.
  

Strong standards alignment: BIS product specs used domestically; exporters routinely build to ISO/EU/US test regimes.