INDIAN HANDICRAFTS INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE IN 2022 - 2023
Handicrafts is one of the most important sectors in the Indian economy employing more than seven million people. India produces various handicrafts like woodware, art-metal wares, handprinted textiles, embroidered goods, zari goods, imitation jewellery, sculptures, pottery, glassware, attars, incense sticks, etc.
The handicraft industry in India is dominated by female artisans with over 56% of the total artisans. The country has 744 handicraft clusters employing nearly 212,000 artisans and offering over 35,000 products. Surat, Bareilly, Varanasi, Agra, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Chennai, and Mumbai are among the major clusters for the handicrafts industry.
Exports of handicrafts from India stood at US$ 1.68 billion in FY23. India is one of the largest handicrafts exporting country and a leader in the homemade carpet segment. In 2022, the total exports of Indian handicrafts were valued at US$ 4.35 billion, a 25.7% increase from the previous year.
India accounts for roughly 40% of global exports of handmade carpets. Handicraft export of various segments in FY23 stood as follows, woodwares at US$ 800.4 million, embroidered & crocheted goods at US$ 369.6 million, art metal wares at US$ 394.22 million, handprinted textiles and scarves at US$ 296.96 million, imitation jewellery at US$ 149.89 million, miscellaneous handicrafts at US$ 865.24 million.
Handicraft Export DestinationsThe major handicraft export destinations for Indian Handicrafts are USA, the UK, LAC, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, the UAE and Switzerland. USA is the top importer of Indian handicrafts with a share of 38% of the total exports.
USA is a significant buyer of handprinted textiles, Zari works, embroidered goods, imitation jewellery, and shawls. The UK is a customer of Indian handicrafts, purchasing art items, crocheted items, handmade handicrafts, wood wares, and imitation jewellery. UAE is one of the major buyers of handprinted textiles, embroidery goods and art metalware.
Handprinted textiles, imitation jewellery, embroidery items, and art metals are popular purchases in Germany and the country purchased carpets worth US$ 116.64 million in the last financial year.