Coir products exports rose marginally by 5.20 per cent to 4.32 lakh tonnes (LT) in the 2012-13 fiscal on higher shipment of coir fibre, according to the Coir Board.

Total exports stood at 4.11 lakh tonnes in 2011-12 fiscal, it said releasing the latest data. In terms of value, coir products exports increased by 5.37 per cent to Rs 1,109.18 crore during last fiscal from Rs 1,052.62 crore in 2011-12.

Exports of coir fibre, which is the biggest contributor to the total exports of coir products in terms of quantity, rose by 19 per cent to 1.43 lakh tonnes in 2012-13 from 1.20 lakh tonnes in 2011-12.

In terms of value, coir fibre exports were up by 4 per cent to Rs 210.78 crore in the current fiscal from Rs 203.24 crore a year ago.

Besides coir fibre, the outbound shipment of core mats and coir pith increased marginally during the 2012-13 fiscal.

However, export of coir rugs and carpets declined by 50 per cent to 95 tonnes from 191 tonnes, while shipment of other coir-based products like coir braids, poles and bags fell by 55 per cent to 26 tonnes from 58 tonnes in the review period.

India is the largest producer and exporter of coir yarn, coir pith, coir mats, matting, carpets and rugs in the world with a share of 70 per cent of coir yarn and 75 per cent of finished coir products in the global trade.