Export clusters in Jammu and Kashmir and what they make
Export production in Jammu and Kashmir is almost entirely handmade. Weaving, embroidery, knotting and carving are done by artisans at home or in small workshops, and exporters often collect, finish and pack the goods in Srinagar.
| Cluster | Main export products | Verified fact (source) |
|---|---|---|
| Srinagar | Pashmina and wool shawls, hand-knotted carpets, chain-stitch rugs, crewel, papier-mâché, walnut wood carving | Town of Export Excellence for handicrafts (DGFT) |
| Anantnag | Handicrafts; Kashmir willow cricket bats in the district | Town of Export Excellence for handicrafts (DGFT). The Kashmir Willow Bat GI was filed by a cooperative in Halmulla, Anantnag (IP India) |
By product, Greater Kashmir's June 2025 report gave 2024-25 exports of about ₹306 crore for shawls and rumals and ₹260 crore for carpets, both down from the year before. Exports have swung sharply from year to year, so check a supplier's current capacity and lead times before you order.
Products we inspect in Jammu and Kashmir
- Shawls: pashmina and wool shawls, including kani and sozni-embroidered pieces. See the wool and woollens inspection overview.
- Carpets and rugs: hand-knotted wool rugs, silk and wool-silk rugs and chain-stitch rugs and namdas.
- Crafts: walnut wood décor, papier-mâché boxes and trays and crewel and embroidered textiles.
- Sport: Kashmir willow cricket bats.
High-value shawls and carpets are often checked piece by piece rather than by AQL sample. We agree the method with you when you book.
How coverage and travel work in Jammu and Kashmir
We have no inspector base in Jammu and Kashmir. Inspectors travel from Delhi NCR, so every factory and workshop here is in Band C: the actual travel cost is quoted before you book, and we need up to 5 working days' notice. The inspection fee is US$249 per man-day; see pricing.
Because the travel cost is a large share of a small order, it helps to have the goods brought together at the exporter's Srinagar warehouse for the inspection, rather than checked at many homes. We confirm the plan and the man-days before you book.
In winter, snow can delay road travel into the Valley. Allow extra time between the ready date and the shipping date from December to February.
Geographical indications for Kashmir crafts
Many Kashmir crafts are registered geographical indications (GIs), which protect the name. Records on the IP India registry, read 14 October 2026:
| GI | Application | Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Kashmir Pashmina | 46 | 2008 (renewal recorded 2025) |
| Kashmir Sozani Craft; Kani Shawl | 48; 51 | 2008 |
| Kashmir Paper Machie; Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving | 181; 182 | 2012 |
| Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet | 527 | 2016 |
| Kashmir Namda; Kashmir Willow Bat | 868; 903 | 31 Mar 2025 |
| Kashmir Chain Stitch; Kashmir Crewel | 1046; 1047 | 31 Mar 2025 |
An inspection cannot prove GI origin or that a shawl is pure pashmina by looking at it. Fibre identification is a lab test, and shahtoosh, from the Tibetan antelope, is banned in trade under CITES. We can pull and seal samples through lab testing coordination.
How to book an inspection in Jammu and Kashmir
Send the product, where the goods will be ready, and the ready date through the booking form for Srinagar. Include sizes, weights, knot or embroidery specifications and approved-sample photos.
We confirm the inspector, man-days and travel cost within 24 hours. The report follows within 24 hours of the inspection, after supervisor review, with a verdict of Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared.
Sources
- DGFT, Appendix 1B: List of Towns of Export Excellence (Srinagar, Anantnag)
- Greater Kashmir: J&K's handicraft exports crash to Rs 733 cr in 2024-25 (21 Jun 2025)
- IP India GI registry: Kashmir Pashmina (application 46)
- IP India GI registry: Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet (application 527)
- IP India GI registry: Kashmir Namda (application 868)
- IP India GI registry: Kashmir Willow Bat (application 903)
- IP India GI registry: Kashmir Chain Stitch (application 1046)
- IP India GI registry: Kashmir Crewel (application 1047)
- IP India GI registry: Kashmir Paper Machie (application 181)
Are you a quality inspector in Jammu and Kashmir?
We work with vetted freelance inspectors near the factories we check. You take assignments in your own area, inspect to our checklist, and Clear To Load pays you, never the factory. Apply to inspect with us.