Though export of jute yarn was more or less the same at Rs 177.53 crore for 65785 tonnes (Rs 179.44 crore for 69809 tonnes last year), despatches of other items including hessian and floor coverings were substantially down during the year, it said.

Jute hessian export was down 6.30 per cent to Rs 186.47 crore in 1999-2000 from Rs 199.01 crore in 1998-99. Total quantity also registered a decline of 13.85 per cent to 56,111 tonnes from 65,132 tonnes last year.

Export of floor coverings of jute came down by 38.32 per cent to Rs 33.05 crore from Rs 53.58 crore. Quantity of export of the article also came down by 52.11 per cent to 3.11 million square metre from 6.49 msqm in the previous fiscal.

Value of exports of other jute made articles came down to Rs 116.64 core in 1999-2000 from Rs 149.57 crore last year, it said.

The data further revealed that the value of exports in the last month of 1999-2000 came down by 13.34 per cent to Rs 29.23 crore from Rs 33.73 crore in the same month of previous year.The setback in export was on account of lower purchases by traditional buyers. While Belgium's purchase of jute yarn, and hessian was up during the year, they purchased significantly lower floor coverings and other products from India.