(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?
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 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 (Apr-Jan)*
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.
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