The India Carpet Expo wore a lacklustre look in its latest edition, as the impact of US tariffs became evident in fewer export orders and less enthusiastic international participation.
The four-day event concluded on October 14 at the Carpet Expo Mart in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, which is known to be a hub of handmade carpets and expert weavers in India. The expo had been inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister, Yogi Adityanath.
Organised by the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) under the Union Ministry of Textiles, Asia’s largest carpet fair could brag of export orders worth about ₹200-240 crore only, its organisers said.
“Export orders worth ₹200 crore to ₹240 crore were received during the fair,” said CEPC Chairman, Kuldeep R Wattal, noting that the previous edition had secured orders worth ₹500 crore.
Also Read: Carpet industry demands bailout package for exporters
While 442 carpet importers from 67 countries had been invited, only 215 importers from 42 countries and 200 representatives of foreign buyers participated in the expo, he further shared, attributing the decline in overseas participation to US tariffs and global trade disruptions caused by ongoing conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war.
“These factors affected logistics, causing delays in shipments,” Wattal said.
However, despite around 100 fewer stalls and 125 fewer buyers, India achieved exports worth ₹17,741.61 crore in the current financial year (2024-25), he added.
Further, the recently-signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United Kingdom bore a positive impact, bringing 10 new buyers from the UK and 12 from Australia to the expo, the chairman stated.
Importers from Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Iran, Russia, Switzerland, the US, and the UAE also visited the fair, placed orders, and interacted directly with exporters, he said.
Around 150 Indian carpet exporters also showcased their collections at the event, which serves as a key global platform for promoting handmade carpets from Bhadohi and other parts of India.
Wattal said demand was particularly strong ahead of the Christmas season, when Bhadohi’s handmade carpets are a preferred choice for home and office decor and gifting in overseas markets
Follow us
