Cheaper rates prompt home textiles exporters in Karur to use sea route

The textile hub of Karur has been witnessing booming business in home textiles with the volume of exports estimated at over Rs. 3,000 crore, according to trade circles. Despite robust growth in export of home textiles from Karur, the Tiruchi international airport has not seen shipment of home textiles notwithstanding its proximity to textile hub of Karur as export continues to be routed through sea

Cheaper rates and the advantage of dispatching goods in bulk are factors prompting textile exporters of Karur to send their home textile products by sea than air.

A mosaic of home textiles such as bed linens, pillow covers, aprons, gloves, cushion covers, tea and kitchen towels manufactured in Karur are being exported to overseas destinations.

According to V. Ananthapadmanabhan, chief executive officer, Karur Textiles Manufacturers Exporters Association, routing textile cargo by sea is cheaper and cost effective for the exporters who have phenomenal advantage of dispatching their products in bulk at one go by sea.

However, once international courier service kick-starts from Tiruchi airport, possibility of samples of home textiles being routed through air might take off. This was because samples would have to reach buyers at the earliest.

European Union, United States, Australia and Scandinavian countries happen to be the major overseas markets for the exporters of Karur.

According to exporters, bulk movement of home textiles is being shipped mainly from the Tuticorin Port to European destinations, US and other foreign markets.

However, none of the major overseas nations which import a mosaic of textile products from Karur has a direct connectivity with Tiruchi airport which is at present connected to Colombo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai.