Witness Double-Digit Growth Is Exported by Nepal's Pashmina

The exports of Pashmina from Nepal to other countries have witnessed a double digit growth during the first two months of the current fiscal year that began on July 15, over the same period last year, according to the data from the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), Republica reported.

Nepal’s Pashmina exports to countries other than India shot up by 43.9 percent to Np Rs. 487.3 million during the two-month period, with Germany, France, Italy, the UK and the US being the major destinations.

The registration of ‘Chyangra Pashmina’ trademark in 41 countries is one of the reasons for an increase in exports of Nepali Pashmina products.

During the financial year which ended on July 15, 2013, Nepal exported Pashmina goods worth Rs. 2.07 billion. The Chyangra Pashmina of Nepal is relatively expensive than those sourced from other countries, and hence its demand was affected due to economic slowdown in some EU member countries.

Pashmina is extracted from the inner coats of the hardy little mountain goats, locally known in Nepal as ‘Chyangra’, which live at an altitude of above 3,000 m in the Himalayas. Only the inner layer fibres measuring under 16.5 microns are specified for use as ‘Pashmina’.

Meanwhile, the value of woolen carpet exports from Nepal also increased by 19.1 percent year-on-year to Rs. 1.29 billion during the two-month period, according to the NRB data.