UP: Bhadohi’s hand-knotted carpet industry grapples with challenges of survival and global competition, what is emerging as another serious challenge?
Bhadohi: The hand-knotted carpet industry of the Mirzapur-Bhadohi region in Uttar Pradesh is currently facing a dual challenge: a struggle for survival and intense global competition. However, the industry has breathed a sigh of relief following the resolution of the standoff along the Strait of Hormuz maritime route.
Hand-knotted carpets from the Mirzapur-Bhadohi region are recognized not merely as export products but also as symbols of the country's rich cultural heritage. The United States has long been the largest market for Indian hand-knotted carpets. Industry sources indicate that the US alone accounts for approximately 60 percent of total exports in this category. Consequently, any hike in import duties or imposition of trade restrictions there directly impacts Bhadohi’s exporters and artisans.
Experts state that the additional tariffs imposed on Indian products by US President Donald Trump have also affected the export of Indian hand-knotted carpets. They note that the hand-knotted carpet industry is 75 to 80 percent labor-intensive; therefore, exporters cannot significantly reduce production costs, even if they wish to do so.
Machine made carpets from China are cheaper
Industry insiders observe that Indian hand-knotted carpets face stiff competition in the global market—particularly in the US—from relatively cheaper machine-made carpets from China. This has put pressure on the market share of Indian products.
Shortage of skilled weavers is emerging as another serious challenge
Meanwhile, a shortage of skilled weavers is emerging as a serious challenge for the hand-knotted carpet industry, which defines the identity of the Bhadohi-Mirzapur region. Interest among the younger generation is waning in this craft—traditionally based on family-inherited skills—due to low earnings and employment uncertainty.
Furthermore, the expansion of education and other job opportunities is driving a rapid migration of trained weavers toward urban areas. Experts believe that if this trend continues, the production of high-quality handmade carpets could be adversely affected, further deepening the existential crisis facing this traditional industry.
Aslam Mahboob, Vice Chairman of the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC), stated that disruptions along the Strait of Hormuz route—compounded by tariff-related uncertainties in the US market—had become a major concern for the industry, given that the majority of Indian carpet exports are shipped via this maritime route.
He said that the recent understanding reached between Iran and the US has raised hopes for the smooth operation of the Strait of Hormuz route, which is expected to bring relief to carpet exporters and normalize international shipping arrangements.