India sends handmade carpets, rugs and floor coverings to buyers all over the world. For a new buyer, that is good news and a challenge at the same time. There are many carpet exporters in India, and they differ in size, style, location and standards.
This guide gives you a map of the industry. You will see where carpet exporters are based, which organisations and trade fairs help you find them, and a simple scorecard to compare your shortlist.
Key takeaways
• Most Indian carpet exporters are grouped in a few clusters, each with its own strengths.
• The Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) and trade fairs are the fastest way to meet many exporters at once.
• A scorecard keeps your comparison fair and based on facts.
• Start with two or three exporters and test each with a sample or small order.
How big is the carpet export industry in India?
According to CEPC, India is the largest producer and exporter of handmade carpets and other floor coverings by value and volume. The industry is labour-intensive and supports a large number of artisans, many of them women in rural areas. A widely quoted industry estimate says most carpets made in India are sold abroad.
For a buyer this means choice, but also noise. Many companies use the same words, such as “leading exporter”, so you need a method to tell them apart.
Where carpet exporters in India are based
|
Hub |
Known for |
Good to know |
|
Bhadohi and Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh |
Hand-knotted and handloom carpets; Bhadohi handmade carpet has a GI tag |
The largest cluster of exporters; styles from traditional to modern |
|
Jaipur, Rajasthan |
Hand-knotted, flatweave and design-led rugs |
Strong design culture; several well-known export brands |
|
Panipat, Haryana |
Rugs and floor coverings in cotton, jute and wool; home textiles |
A home textile hub; good for dhurries, tufted rugs and mixed home textile orders |
|
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir |
Fine hand-knotted carpets with Persian-style designs |
Often chosen for high-end pieces |
|
Agra, Uttar Pradesh |
Traditional carpets and dhurries |
Long weaving history |
Organisations that help you find carpet exporters
• Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC): set up by the Ministry of Textiles to promote handmade carpets and floor coverings. It organises the India Carpet Expo and India pavilions abroad.
• GoodWeave: a certification body that publishes a list of licensed exporters in India. It focuses on keeping child labour out of carpet supply chains.
• Standards bodies: OEKO-TEX, Textile Exchange (GRS), GOTS, Sedex and SA8000 publish information on the standards they run, and you can ask exporters to share certificate numbers.
Trade fairs where you can meet exporters
Meeting many exporters in one place saves months of emails. You can compare samples side by side and judge the people behind the company.
• India Carpet Expo: organised by CEPC, with exporters from the main carpet clusters. The 50th edition was planned for New Delhi in April 2026. Check the CEPC website for the next dates.
• Heimtextil (Frankfurt): CEPC takes a group of Indian exporters here. It is a major home textile fair.
• DOMOTEX (Hanover): a global floor covering fair where many Indian exporters have exhibitor pages.
If you cannot travel, many exhibitors share profiles and catalogues online before and after the show.
A simple scorecard to compare carpet exporters
Give each exporter a score from 1 to 5 for every line, then multiply by the weight. The highest total is not always the winner, but it shows where the gaps are.
|
Criterion |
Weight |
What to look for |
|
Product fit |
25% |
Makes the construction, size and style you need |
|
Quality of samples |
20% |
Finishing, colour accuracy, backing, edges |
|
Certifications and compliance |
15% |
Current certificates; clear social compliance policy |
|
Capacity and lead time |
15% |
Written lead time and monthly capacity |
|
Price and terms |
15% |
Clear quote, shipping terms and payment terms |
|
Communication |
10% |
Fast, clear, honest answers |
How to build your shortlist step by step
1. List 8 to 10 exporters from trade fairs, CEPC and trusted directories.
2. Send each one the same short brief: product, size, quantity and market.
3. Compare the quotes and the quality of the replies.
4. Request samples from your top three.
5. Score them with the table above.
6. Run a small trial order with your top choice before you scale up.
Risks to plan for
• Differences between the sample and the bulk order. Keep the approved sample and agree a tolerance for size and colour in writing.
• Delays in production or shipping. Agree a lead time and a plan for late delivery.
• Changes in freight costs. Ask your forwarder for current rates before you fix your selling price.
• Unclear paperwork. Ask for a list of shipping documents at the start.
How Rugs Creation fits in
Rugs Creation exports rugs, carpets, cushions, throws, poufs and accessories from Panipat. We have been exporting since 2008 and ship to 53+ countries, with the USA, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Canada among our regions. Our certifications include OEKO-TEX, GRS, Sedex, SA8000, ISO 9001:2015, GOTS and Care & Fair.
If you are building a shortlist, you can add us and test us with a sample. See our carpet export company page or our rugs manufacturer in India page for more detail.
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