The coir industry, one of the major traditional industries in the State and second only to agriculture as a source of employment in Kerala, provides employment to around 4 lakh persons, of which 84% are women. With 10.05 lakh hectares under coconut cultivation, this accounts for 45% of the net cropped area in the State.

ICC has given employment directly and indirectly to around 1000 poeple.

Concentration of coir industry in the State:

Alapuzha , Kayamkulam Chirayinkeezhu, Kollam, North Parur , Trichur , Kozhikode, Kannur, Ponnani, Vaikom

Varieties of coir yarn produced:

Ashtamudi, Anjengo, Mangadan, Artary , Vaikom, Koilandy , Arror Sp, Muppine, Rope Yarn

Varieties of coir products produced & exported.

Matts, mattings, rubberised coir products, mattresses, pillows, cushion, coir, geo-textiles, tuffes, mats, coir pith, rugs, carpets, curled coir. While the production of coir products stood at 15,560 MT, as on 1999 - 2000, the total exports of coir products stood at 58,947 MT.