Haryana: Poor response at Frankfurt fair hits Panipat handloom exporters

Panipat's exporters, already struggling with shrinking orders due to the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, faced a poor response at the world's largest textile fair, Heimtextil 2026, in Frankfurt, Germany.Around 180 exporters from Panipat showcased handloom products to attract overseas buyers, but buyer footfall was far lower than in the previous two years.Panipat, globally recognised as a handloom hub, generates an annual turnover of about Rs 60,000 crore, with exports accounting for Rs 18,000 crore. As many as 500 exporters ship items like bath mats, floor coverings, rugs, carpets, bedsheets, towels, curtains, cushions, blankets, mattresses, and puffs to countries worldwide.Vinod Dhamija, chairman of the Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industries (HCCI) Panipat chapter, said the sector had been hit by the Russia-Ukraine war and is now reeling from Trump's 50% tariffs on Indian exports. The US accounts for 60% of Panipat's business and the impact was evident at the fair.“This is the most awaited event for us, but Trump's tariffs made it our worst yet. US buyer traffic was just 10% of normal, and they demanded 40-50% rate cuts, which is impossible,” Dhamija said. Europe, too, showed market uncertainty, with booths lying vacant and footfall at only 50% of previous levels.Surender Mittal, a renowned exporter, who also visited Germany during the fair, said the impact of US tariffs had been clearly visible on this fair this year. Traffic of new buyers was very less and the Panipat exporters didn’t get good response this year, he said.Lalit Goel, Chairman, Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC) and president, Panipat Exporters’ Association, said the fair appeared to be lax in comparison to the previous years.

Haryana: Poor response at Frankfurt fair hits Panipat handloom exporters

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Haryana: Poor response at Frankfurt fair hits Panipat handloom exporters

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

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