Lok Sabha Question No. 2530 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-16
Subject: Export of Silk
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: HARISH DWIVEDI

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2530 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2017

## EXPORT OF SILK

2530. SHRI HARISH CHANDRA ALIAS HARISH DWIVEDI:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has made any assessment regarding the export of silk and silk products from the country;
- (b) if so, the details  and the outcome thereof during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c) whether  producers  of  silk  and  silk  products  are  facing  problems  in  selling  their products in the international market;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the remedial steps taken by the Government in the regard?

## ( )

## उत्तर ANSWER वस्त्र मंरी श्री अज

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI AJAY TAMTA)

(a) & (b): Yes. The details of export of silk and silk products from the country during last three years and the current year is given below:-

## Variety-wise Exports of Silk and Silk Goods during last three years and Current year

| Items              | 2013-14   | 2013-14   | 2014-15   | 2014-15   | 2015-16   | 2015-16   | 2016-17 (Apr-Jan)*   | 2016-17 (Apr-Jan)*   |
|--------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------------------|----------------------|
| Items              | Crore Rs  | Mn.US$    | Crore Rs  | Mn.US$    | Crore Rs  | Mn.US$    | Crore Rs             | Mn.US$               |
| Natural Silk Yarn  | 36.25     | 6.00      | 25.40     | 4.15      | 30.32     | 4.66      | 8.26                 | 1.23                 |
| Fabrics, Made-ups  | 1455.63   | 240.92    | 1465.43   | 240.21    | 1280.60   | 196.67    | 345.81               | 51.44                |
| Readymade Garments | 874.00    | 144.65    | 1214.01   | 206.18    | 1078.39   | 171.89    | 987.32               | 146.86               |
| Silk Carpets       | 15.71     | 2.60      | 15.97     | 2.61      | 16.88     | 2.58      | 40.84                | 6.07                 |
| Silk waste         | 99.30     | 16.43     | 109.12    | 17.85     | 89.80     | 13.73     | 83.63                | 12.44                |
| Total              | 2480.89   | 410.61    | 2829.94   | 471.00    | 2495.99   | 389.53    | 1465.86              | 218.04               |

Note:

Natural Silk yarn includes raw silk & cocoons

* Provisional Data (April 16 to January 17)

Source : Compiled from the Monthly Foreign Trade Statistics of India (MSFTI), DGCIS, Kolkata

(c) & (d): Some of the issues affecting silk exports are as under:-

-  Decreased demand from major consuming markets (Europe & USA)
-  Rising prices of raw silk yarn/fabrics
-  Increased competition from blended silk products (silk blends with synthetic and polyester fabrics)
-  Silk not being major focus of current fashion trends in European and USA market
-  Lack of on-shore availability of high quality silk and dependence on China for high end raw silk/fabric

However, while exports have reduced to traditional markets like USA, Europe, silk exports are picking up in new/non-traditional markets like UAE, Malaysia, Sudan, Nigeria etc.

(e): The  quality  of  silk  produced  in  India  requires  improvement  for  making  high  fashion garments for export. India depends on import of high-grade bivoltine raw silk (4A & above quality) and fabric from China. At present, India has reached the level of production of 3A grade silk and in order to boost the silk exports, the Government has been taking several steps for increasing the domestic production of the import substitute quality silk (bivoltine), such as - R&D has been focused to evolve productive bivoltine hybrids and package of practices for production of  high quality bivoltine silk in the country; Focus has been given to increase the production of bivoltine raw silk in the country to 5000 MT per annum in XII Five year Plan (2012-13 to 2016-17); 172 clusters have been organized across the country with the support of State Governments to augment the production of bivoltine silk under Cluster Development Programme;  35  Automatic  Reeling  Machines(ARM)/Units  have  been  established  in  the country for production of 3A-4A grade raw Silk from the bivoltine cocoons; initiating action to  evolve  new  products  by  blending  silk  with  other  fibres  such  as  wool,  coir,  cotton  etc., which  have  demand  in  the  international  markets;  under  the  present  Foreign  Trade  Policy (FTP)  providing  rewards  to  majority  of  textile  products  including  silk  products  under Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS) under which majority of the silk products have  been  covered  with  2%  Duty  Scrip;  introducing  Silk  Mark  label  for  100%  pure  silk products  for  protecting  the  interests  of  consumers  and  participation  of  Indian  Silk  Export Promotion Council (ISEPC) along with silk exporters in different international exports.

****