The Indian handicraft exports showed an upward surge of around twelve percent year-on-year to $ 205 million in May this year despite demand slowdown in western markets like Europe in contrast with $ 183 million in the year ago period, quoting the data from Exports Promotion Council for Handicrafts, a PTI report said.
Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director of EPCH said that there was an increase in demand from new markets such as China, West Asia and Latin America. The demand, however, is still weak in the US and European markets that are witnessing sluggish economic growth. The US and Europe together account for over 60 percent of the country's total handicraft exports. Among the items that registered maximum growth in exports in May included woodwares that saw a rise of 53 percent, followed by imitation jewellery 46 percent and shawls as artwares 32 percent, added the report.
