BackECONOMY
West Asia conflict leaves Kashmir’s carpet exports in tatters
A West Asia conflict has disrupted Kashmir's carpet and handicraft sectors, with orders down about 40% and freight costs up around 400%. Industry leaders urge direct government procurement from weavers to prevent collapse, but the Jammu and Kashmir government has not acted yet. The impact spans Dubai showrooms to Srinagar looms, and even GI-tagged Kashmiri silk carpets face a slow, uncertain recovery.
Why It Matters
The disruption threatens livelihoods of artisans in Kashmir and could affect regional trade dynamics, with potential knock-on effects on luxury export markets globally if tensions persist.
Timeline
2 Events
Article reports broader impact and proposed government intervention
April 28, 2026
The piece explains the crisis extends from Dubai showrooms to Srinagar looms, with showrooms halting sourcing and logistics costs rising. It notes a proposal for the Jammu and Kashmir Handicrafts Corporation to begin direct procurement from weavers to safeguard livelihoods until markets stabilise. The government has not taken any steps yet, awaiting situation improvement, and the report highlights continued vulnerability of GI-tagged Kashmiri silk carpets to geopolitical shifts.
Industry leaders report early impact of conflict on trade
April 27, 2026
Industry figure Sheikh Ashiq, a Carpet Export Promotion Council member and former KCCI president, states freight charges have surged by about 400% and business has declined by around 40% as the West Asia conflict intensifies, describing the impact as immediate and tied to regional instability.