Top 5 Handicraft Exporting Countries in the World

According to a recent report, the global arts and crafts market is estimated to be worth more than $1 trillion in 2023. Asia-Pacific will dominate the market with a total share of 36.3%, followed by North America, with increasing imports of handicrafts from Asian countries. Driven by rising home decor trends and a recovery in international travel to pre-pandemic levels, the industry is projected to reach $2.39 trillion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 10.11%.

Homeowners are increasingly investing in customizing and improving their living spaces. A report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University said that American households have spent more than $150 billion on home renovations since 2019. Additionally, the rise of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) culture has also become popular in the United States, resulting in many people venturing into customizing their homes themselves. Meanwhile, the demand for handicrafts has also increased due to an increase in international travel. Tourists often look for locally made crafts, souvenirs, and products to bring back from the countries they visit.

Check out the top 5 largest handicraft exporting countries in the world.

5. South Africa

• Exports: $316 million

The main export destinations for South African handicrafts are the United States, Europe and African countries, and include products such as jewellery, textiles, home accessories, beadwork and baskets. With export trade of US$316 million in 2021, South Africa is one of the largest handicraft exporters in the world. However, this figure is down from 2018, when it was estimated at nearly US$450 million. The decline in South African handicraft exports has been blamed on the coronavirus pandemic, which has disrupted the industry’s supply chain.

4. Philippines

• Exports: $500 million

The Philippines is one of the world’s largest exporters of handicrafts. Beadwork, tribal jewelry, wooden figurines, ceramic pots, mats and posters are in demand around the world. Philippine exports were $500 million in 2023, but the government expects them to fall by 20% in 2024 as the Philippines loses part of its handicraft market to Indonesia.

3. Vietnam

• Exports: $3.5 billion

Vietnam has more than 2,000 recognized handicraft villages producing products in various subcategories, including silverwork, bamboo weaving, pottery, rattan, marquetry and woodwork. The local industry employs at least 2 million Vietnamese and boasts an annual export value of around $3.5 billion. Vietnamese handicrafts are exported to over 163 countries around the world. As a member of the WTO, the country benefits from lower export tariffs on handicrafts, giving further advantages to the local industry.

2. India

• Exports: $3.6 billion

India is one of the world’s largest exporters of handicrafts, with export trade value of $3.6 billion in FY2023. The country is the clear leader in handmade carpets, accounting for 37% of total handicraft exports and 40% of all handmade carpets exported worldwide. Other important handicrafts exported by India include handmade wool, hand-printed textiles and scarves, wood products, jewelry, and incense sticks called agarabattis.

1. China

• Exports: $5 billion +

There is little information available on the value of Chinese handicraft exports, but the consensus of most industry experts is that China is the world’s largest exporter of handicrafts, with an estimated trade value of over $5 billion. These handicrafts are mainly exported from Beijing to the United States, Japan, Korea, India, and Europe. Handmade carpets, silk embroidery, lamps, bracelets, jewelry, wooden products, glass mirrors, table and kitchen accessories are among the country’s major handicraft exports. Chinese handicrafts are also popular among tourists visiting the country. An estimated $500 million worth of handicrafts are sold annually to tourists looking for journey.