Though several manufacturing units in Coimbatore district were hit during the last one year, export of coir products from Pollachi has shown an increase of 25 per cent in 2013.
S. Mahesh Kumar, president of the Indian Coir Pith and Allied Products Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association, told The Hindu on Thursday that export of coir pith and fibre was higher in 2013 compared to the previous year.
When exports from Sri Lanka fell, some orders were diverted to India, he said.
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Some companies in Kerala that make coir mats were investing in Pollachi because of the availability of raw material and labour.
There was a shortage in availability of husk too.
This had resulted in almost 100 per cent jump in prices of some of the raw materials. The units were going for automation.
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“The coming years will be good for the industry in Pollachi,” he said.
The year was not so good for tea — another major sector in the region.
According to R. Ambalavanan, Executive Director of Tea Board, the tea sector saw a fall in sales and prices during the last four or five months.
Demand and prices were expected to pick up in January as arrivals from the north would decline.
“We were hoping for better prices in November-December, 2013, but it did not happen,” he said.
Arrivals from the north and Kenya had gone up, resulting in lower demand for the tea produced here.