Major Export Products

Pashmina

Pashmina is fine Himalayan Cashmere in Nepal, usually simply known as pashmina, is a fiber obtained from Chyangra pashmina goats called Capra Hircus Laniger. Pashmina, popularly known as “Cashmere” is well known for its fineness, warmth, softness, desirable aesthetic value, elegance and timelessness in fashion.  Pashmina is the down fibre derived from the hair of domesticated goat Capra hircus indigenous to Asia. The major fibre producing countries are Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Mongolia, Nepal and Pakistan.

In Nepal, Chyangra goat rearing have been an age-old tradition in the Himalayas. So, the fine pashmina fibres obtained from Chyangra goats are used to make yarn, textiles and clothing for hundreds of years. Pashmina is closely associated with the Cashmere shawl. The mountain goat (Capra hircus) locally called “Chyangra” which lives at the altitude above 3,000 meters in the Himalayas. The history of Pashmina is traced back to prehistoric times in Nepal. Pashmina (Cashmere) products are one of the major exportable items from Nepal.

Pashmina / Cashmere is fine animal-hair fibre obtained from the undercoat of a domesticated Chyangra/Cashmere goat (Capra hircus).

Note 1 : Pashmina and Cashmere  are the  same  term used interchangeably according to the region.

Note 2: Chyangra is the Nepali name given to Cashmere goat (Capra hircus).

Raw Pashmina/Cashmere fibre: Un-cleaned Pashmina/Cashmere fibre having guard hair as it is taken from undercoat of Chyangra (Cashmere) goat.

Scoured Pashmina/ Cashmere fibre: Pashmina/Cashmere fibre washed, cleaned by mechanical and/or chemical method which removes impurities and foreign matters.

Sliver/ Top: An indefinitely long assembly of staple fibers, substantially parallel and without twist, and capable of being drafted.  

Pashmina (Cashmere) Yarn:  A yarn made of Pashmina (Cashmere) fibre, spun on the woolen as well as worsted system.

Woven Fabric:  A fabric produced by interlacing (by weaving on a loom or a weaving machine) a set of warp threads and a set of weft threads normally at right angles to each other

Knitted Fabric: Fabric constructed by interlocking a series of loops of one or more yarns by hand or by machine.

Needle/Punch Felt: Piercing tufts of raw wool hundreds of times using a very sharp needle with tiny barbs to sculpt various shapes and figures.

Pashmina Trade

With approximately 2.2 million pieces exported, amounting to $27.6 million of export revenues generated in 2019, Nepal has progressively increased its market share in the world. Nepali pashmina products include shawls, stoles, scarves, mufflers, blankets and pullovers. Some of these items are customized through embroidery, dyeing, beading, printing and painting, enhancing their value and appeal.

The pashmina industry employs over 20,000 people, of which around 50% are women. The majority of CP manufacturers are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They can contribute to rural employment creation through improved backward links. The Chyangra farms and scenic pastureland can contribute to rural tourism.

There is a need to work towards improving the traceability of the animals through the introduction of a basic tagging system which is accessible to all farmers for animal identification. In addition, Chyangra goats need to be included as a separate classification in the national agricultural census. They are currently classified under the general goat category and this makes it difficult to assess the population numbers. Different estimates put the population of Chyangra goats in Nepal between 131,695 (official government information available for 2015) and 325,435 (as reported by the World Bank report for the Nepal Livestock Sector Innovation Project). In the absence of proper data, estimates for fibre production in Nepal also remain uncertain. The most recent study suggests that estimated raw Chyangra fibre production is about six metric tons.1

Requirement of Pashmina/Cashmere fibre:

3.1 Diameter (Fineness):

The fibre shall be generally non-medullated and shall have mean diameter not exceeding 17.5 micron. The coefficient of variation around the mean shall not exceed 24%. There shall be no more than 3% (by weight) of cashmere fibres over 30 microns. 

To find out information on country-specific tariff rates, check the International Trade Centre’s MAcMAp. Put Nepal in exporting country field and select the destination country, exporting commodity and year to be exported to find the tariff rate. To find country-specific non-tariff requirements click here.