Exports of silver goods down 64pc
KATHMANDU, JUN 25 -
Exporters of silver handicrafts have attributed declining sales to increased price of bullion, lack of a cadmium testing lab and shortage of skilled artisans to design new products.
According to the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), the export of silver products plunged 64 percent in the first 10 months of the fiscal year compared to the same period last year.
Traders exported silver articles worth Rs 58.4 million during the review period this year, down from Rs 177.8 million two years ago. Despite a decline in exports to traditional markets including Europe, demand has increased mainly from China.
“Though demand from China has swelled, we have not been able to fulfil orders due to the increased price of silver and shortage of workers,” said Jeevan Raj Shakya of Export House at Durbar Marg. “Unlike European traders, Chinese traders seek large quantities of more than a thousand pieces in each order.”
Regarding falling exports of silver jewellery to Europe, Shakya said that Nepali traders had not been able to come up with innovative designs according to the changing preferences of European buyers. “They usually demand exclusive designs for each purchase,” added Shakya.
Similarly, absence of a cadmium testing lab has led to a decline in the export of silver products to Europe. “Importers demand certification from an accredited lab, however, we have not been able to guarantee the quality of our product,” said Shakya. Kulman Shakya of Kabish Art Palace said that they were unable to meet demand due to lack of professional craftsmen. “Apart from manufacturing products of conventional designs, traders need to shift to exclusive designs by using information technology.”
Statistics compiled by the Federation of Handicraft Associations Nepal (FHAN) also show an increasing trend in the export of silver articles to China.
According to FHAN, silver products worth Rs 4.4 million were exported to China during the first six months of this year compared to Rs 2.9 million in the same period last year.
“Amid falling exports to our traditional trading partners, domestic traders could benefit by increasing exports to China provided they can expand production,” said Krishna Sundar Hada, a FHAN official.
Source: Kantipur
Exporters of silver handicrafts have attributed declining sales to increased price of bullion, lack of a cadmium testing lab and shortage of skilled artisans to design new products.
According to the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), the export of silver products plunged 64 percent in the first 10 months of the fiscal year compared to the same period last year.
Traders exported silver articles worth Rs 58.4 million during the review period this year, down from Rs 177.8 million two years ago. Despite a decline in exports to traditional markets including Europe, demand has increased mainly from China.
“Though demand from China has swelled, we have not been able to fulfil orders due to the increased price of silver and shortage of workers,” said Jeevan Raj Shakya of Export House at Durbar Marg. “Unlike European traders, Chinese traders seek large quantities of more than a thousand pieces in each order.”
Regarding falling exports of silver jewellery to Europe, Shakya said that Nepali traders had not been able to come up with innovative designs according to the changing preferences of European buyers. “They usually demand exclusive designs for each purchase,” added Shakya.
Similarly, absence of a cadmium testing lab has led to a decline in the export of silver products to Europe. “Importers demand certification from an accredited lab, however, we have not been able to guarantee the quality of our product,” said Shakya. Kulman Shakya of Kabish Art Palace said that they were unable to meet demand due to lack of professional craftsmen. “Apart from manufacturing products of conventional designs, traders need to shift to exclusive designs by using information technology.”
Statistics compiled by the Federation of Handicraft Associations Nepal (FHAN) also show an increasing trend in the export of silver articles to China.
According to FHAN, silver products worth Rs 4.4 million were exported to China during the first six months of this year compared to Rs 2.9 million in the same period last year.
“Amid falling exports to our traditional trading partners, domestic traders could benefit by increasing exports to China provided they can expand production,” said Krishna Sundar Hada, a FHAN official.
Source: Kantipur
