In the past 10 days or so, Indian manufacturers and exporters of such goods have received an increasing number of enquiries — mostly from the US and the European Union — seeking to replace China as a supplier.
Global buyers are turning to India to source ceramics, homeware, fashion and lifestyle goods, textiles, engineering goods and furniture from the country as China grapples with the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
In the past 10 days or so, Indian manufacturers and exporters of such goods have received an increasing number of enquiries — mostly from the US and the European Union — seeking to replace China as a supplier.
“We have received around 50 new accounts in the past seven days who were earlier sourcing their products from China but now want to source homeware, fashion and lifestyle goods, textiles and furniture from India,” said Rakesh Kumar, director general, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts.
Similarly, at the ongoing Cevisama 2020 ceramics fair in Spain, some 55 Indian companies have drummed up greater interest from buyers owing to muted competition from China. “We expect to get a head start in ceramics, especially in vitrified tiles, where we compete with China,” said a Delhi-based exporter.
Clients in the US and the EU have also set their sights on India for labour-intensive products such as garments.
“We have received enquiries above Rs 10 crore from the EU and US alone as the level of sensitivity there is higher,” said Sharad Kumar Saraf, chairman, Technocraft Industries (India) Ltd. The company, which has monthly exports of Rs 80-90 crore, manufactures textiles, drum closures, tubes and scaffoldings.
Indian exporters of chemicals, engineering goods and marine products will benefit the most, said Ajay Sahai, director general at the Federation of Indian Export Organisations.
Saraf said India also has capacity constraints and manufacturers in the country lack the knowhow required to quickly ramp up production. “Almost six months are needed to increase capacity by 25%,” he said.
