The Indian plastics industry's 2007-08 product and machinery exports are estimated to have reached US$4.1 billion, up from $3.1 billion a year earlier, a Plastindia Foundation report said.
``Over 50 percent of our exports are raw materials covering 157 countries,'' said Arvind Mehta, report author and president of the group, May 27 at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Federation of Plastic Industries conference in Singapore.
India has increased its plastics exports to main markets significantly, except the U.S. and United Arab Emirates.
Exports to the U.S. for 2006-07 were down to US$246.3 million, from US$301.2 million a year earlier. Likewise, exports to the UAE dropped to US$146.3 million, from US$320.8 million.
But India gained a good foothold in China, increasing its 2006-07 exports to nearly US$439 million, from almost US$400 million.
Exports to Vietnam for 2006-07 reached US$146 million, up from $48.2 million the year before; Italy, US$115.4 million, from US$54.5 million; United Kingdom, US$108.9 million, to US$87.2 million; Pakistan, US$99.2 million, from US$64.8 million; the Philippines, US$68.2 million, from US$37.6 million; and Indonesia, US$61.9 million, from US$27.4 million.
