Export clusters in Kerala and what they make
Kerala's export manufacturing is smaller and more specialised than in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Coir is made around the backwaters of Alappuzha, handloom furnishings in Kannur in the north and around Thiruvananthapuram in the south, and wood, rubber and footwear units sit around Kochi and Kozhikode.
| Cluster | Products | Verified fact |
|---|---|---|
| Alappuzha (Alleppey) | Coir mats, matting, rugs, yarn | Town of Export Excellence for coir products (DGFT); Alleppey Coir is a registered GI (IP India, application 54, valid to July 2036); ODOP product "Coir products" |
| Kannur | Cushion covers, curtains, table and bed linen, furnishing fabrics | Town of Export Excellence for handlooms (DGFT, spelt "Kanoor"); Cannanore Home Furnishings is a registered GI covering textile classes 22, 23, 24 and 27 (IP India, application 144, valid to November 2028) |
| Thiruvananthapuram | Handloom fabrics and sarees | ODOP product "Handloom Products" (Invest India ODOP list) |
| Kochi and Ernakulam | Footwear and leather, wood furniture, plywood | The Council for Leather Exports lists Kozhikode and Ernakulam/Cochin as production centres (2026); the Ministry of MSME lists completed common facility centres for a wood furniture cluster in Ernakulam and a plywood cluster at Perumbavoor (updated 20 March 2024) |
| Kollam | Cashew kernels | Town of Export Excellence for cashew products (DGFT). We supervise container loading only; we do not grade food |
AEKK (Aroor, Ezhupunna, Kodanthuruthu and Kuthiathodu) is a Town of Export Excellence for seafood. Seafood is outside what we inspect.
Port. Kerala's containers mostly leave through the DP World-led International Container Transshipment Terminal at Vallarpadam, Kochi, which the port's chairperson-in-charge described as essentially a gateway terminal (The Week, July 2026).
Products we inspect in Kerala
- Coir: coir doormats, with tuft retention, backing bond, size, weight and moisture checks, and coir pith and growing media, where block weight, expansion and lab samples for salinity matter. The jute and coir inspection page covers the whole group.
- Handloom home furnishings from Kannur: cushion covers, curtains and table linen, checked for size, shade between pieces, seams and labels.
- Handloom fabric and sarees: handloom fabrics and cotton and handloom sarees, where natural handloom irregularity has to be told apart from defects.
- Footwear: see footwear inspection.
- Wood products: see furniture inspection; moisture content matters in Kerala's humid climate.
How coverage and travel work in Kerala
Our inspectors are based in Jodhpur, Jaipur, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Delhi NCR and Kolkata. None is in Kerala, so every visit in the state is Band C: an inspector travels in, and the actual travel cost is quoted before you book. Allow up to 5 working days' notice.
- Plan by route. Alappuzha is close to Kochi, so a coir factory visit and a container loading supervision near the port can share a trip. Kannur is in the far north and usually needs its own trip.
- Monsoon. Kerala gets heavy rain from about June to September. Coir and handloom goods packed damp can grow mould in the container, so we check moisture, storage and carton condition on the day.
- Same standard everywhere. Each report follows the same checklist and verdict wording, and a supervisor reviews it before release.
An inspection costs US$249 per man-day plus travel; see pricing.
How to book an inspection in Kerala
Send the product, the factory's address and the ready date through the booking form, with your specification, label artwork and photos of the approved sample. Within 24 hours we confirm the inspector, the notice we need, the man-days and the price, including travel. The report arrives within 24 hours of the inspection with a verdict of Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared.
Sources
- DGFT, Appendix 1B: List of Towns of Export Excellence (Alleppey, Kanoor, Kollam, AEKK)
- IP India GI registry: Alleppey Coir (application 54)
- IP India GI registry: Cannanore Home Furnishings (application 144)
- Invest India: ODOP product list (Feb 2026)
- Council for Leather Exports: Overview of the Indian Leather Industry 2026
- DC-MSME: Completed CFCs under MSE-CDP, updated 20.03.2024
- The Week: Cochin Port's gateway cargo push at Vallarpadam ICTT (15 Jul 2026)
Are you a quality inspector in Kerala?
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.