Buyer guide · Sourcing
Carpet exporters from India: a buyer guide
A carpet exporter from India is the company that sells handmade carpets abroad and ships them under its own Importer-Exporter Code. It may also be the manufacturer or may source from other makers, so ask which. Carpet exporters register with the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) and receive an RCMC.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
A note before you start
This guide is published by Raheem and Son, which is itself a carpet exporter and manufacturer in Bhadohi. We name no other firm here and we rank none. For named companies, listed by the year each states it was founded and with sources, see carpet exporters in India and rug manufacturers in India. Raheem and Son is included in both, and the lists are an ordering, not a ranking.
Exporter, manufacturer and trader: what each does
A carpet exporter is the company that sells to the overseas buyer, issues the export invoice and ships the goods under its own Importer-Exporter Code. A manufacturer is the company that weaves, tufts or finishes the carpet. A trader buys finished carpets from others and resells them. One firm can be more than one of these. Many Indian carpet houses are exporters and manufacturers at once, and many exporters weave through a network of looms and weavers instead of owning every loom.
| Role | What it does | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Exporter | Sells abroad, invoices and ships under its own IEC | Is the exporter named on the invoice the same entity as on the contract? |
| Manufacturer | Makes the carpet, in its own units or through a loom network | Which stages do you control, and can I see them? |
| Trader | Buys finished stock and resells it | Who makes this design, and who is responsible for a defect? |
None of the three is wrong for every buyer. A trader can be quick for stock designs. If you want your own design, colour or size, a manufacturer-exporter shortens the chain. Our page on manufacturer or trader: how to tell sets out the checks.
Where Indian carpet export is based
Handmade carpet making in India is concentrated in a few well-known clusters, and exporters sit in or near them.
- Bhadohi and Mirzapur, in Uttar Pradesh, are the best-known hand-knotted and handloom belt, often called the carpet city of India. See carpet manufacturers in Bhadohi and Bhadohi, India's carpet city.
- Jaipur, in Rajasthan, is a major centre for hand-knotted and hand-tufted rugs.
- Panipat, in Haryana, is known for flat-woven and woven floor coverings and home textiles.
- Srinagar, in Kashmir, is known for hand-knotted wool and silk carpets.
The cluster tells you the craft tradition, not the quality of one supplier. Judge a supplier by its samples and its answers, not by its postcode.
How carpet export from India works
- IEC. An Indian exporter holds an Importer-Exporter Code issued through the DGFT, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT portal, checked 3 November 2026).
- CEPC registration and RCMC. The Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) is the export promotion council for carpets, set up by the Government of India under the Ministry of Textiles. A carpet exporter registers with it and receives a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate, the RCMC (Carpet Export Promotion Council, checked 3 November 2026). Read what CEPC registration means for buyers.
- Sample and approval. You approve a sample before bulk production. See the rug sampling process.
- Production and inspection. The order is made, checked and packed. See rug quality control and rug packing and loading.
- Documents and shipping. The exporter prepares the commercial invoice, packing list and, where needed, a certificate of origin, and books the container. The price term decides who pays for what; FOB means the exporter delivers the goods on board at the named Indian port.
- Import clearance. You, or your broker, clear the goods in your country. Carpets sit in Chapter 57 of the Harmonised System: 5701 knotted, 5702 woven, 5703 tufted (WCO HS Nomenclature 2022, Chapter 57, checked 3 November 2026). Your broker confirms the exact line.
Ports differ by destination. See export and logistics for the gateway ports and what each suits, and the sea freight transit finder for transit times.
What to ask a carpet exporter before you order
- Which legal entity will be on the invoice, and is it the entity on the contract and the CEPC registration?
- Does it make the carpet itself or through other units, and which stages does it control?
- What is the minimum order, and is the sampling cost credited against an order?
- How long do samples and bulk production take, from which approval point?
- What are the payment terms, and what price term applies at which port?
- Will it sign a non-disclosure agreement before you share a design?
- What does it inspect, and will it send photographs and measurements before dispatch?
The full list is the rug manufacturer checklist, and how to choose a rug manufacturer in India shows how to weigh the answers.
A CEPC registration is a first filter. It shows a company is a registered carpet exporter. It is not a product test, a factory audit or a labour certification, so keep your own sample inspection.
How Raheem and Son works as an exporter
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1927, in Bhadohi |
| Registration | Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC); no other certification is claimed |
| Minimum order | 1 piece |
| Sampling | 5 to 20 days; the sampling cost is credited against your order |
| Bulk production | 8 to 16 weeks from sample approval |
| Payment terms | 50% advance, 50% before dispatch |
| Shipping | FOB Nhava Sheva as the usual term; five ports used |
| Volume | 200+ containers a year |
| Trade fairs | Ten trade fairs, listed on the contract page |
| Confidentiality | A non-disclosure agreement is standard before designs are shared |
Where to go next
If you are sourcing a specific type, read how to export rugs from India for runners, kilims, silk and hand-knotted. To start an order, send your size, construction and quantity on the bulk quote form.
Request a bulk quote
Send your design, size and estimated quantity. We reply within two business days, usually within one. Minimum order: 1 piece. Sampling cost is credited against your order. Payment: 50% advance, 50% before dispatch.
Buyer questions
Carpet exporters from India: your questions
What is a carpet exporter?
A carpet exporter is the company that sells carpets to overseas buyers, issues the export invoice and ships under its own Importer-Exporter Code. It may also be the manufacturer, or it may source from other makers.
Is a carpet exporter the same as a manufacturer?
Not always. A manufacturer makes the carpet. An exporter sells and ships it abroad. Many Indian carpet houses are both, and a trader is a third role that resells finished stock.
What is CEPC?
CEPC is the Carpet Export Promotion Council, the export promotion council for carpets set up by the Government of India under the Ministry of Textiles. Carpet exporters register with it and receive an RCMC.
Where are carpets exported from in India?
Handmade carpet making is concentrated in clusters such as Bhadohi and Mirzapur, Jaipur, Panipat and Srinagar. Goods leave through ports such as Nhava Sheva in Mumbai, Mundra and Kolkata.
How do I check an Indian carpet exporter is genuine?
Ask for the legal entity name, the CEPC registration and the Importer-Exporter Code, and check that the entity matches your contract. Then approve a sample before bulk production.
What is the minimum order from Raheem and Son?
Minimum order: 1 piece. Sampling takes 5 to 20 days, with its cost credited against your order, and bulk production takes 8 to 16 weeks.
What are your payment and shipping terms?
50% advance and 50% before dispatch. FOB Nhava Sheva is the usual term.