The value of hand-woven carpets exported in the first five months of the Iranian calendar year (starting March 22) reached $135 million.
The Mehr News Agency reported that despite the economic slowdown the export of hand-woven carpets has increased 1 percent in value which is noteworthy.
The value of exported hand-woven carpets last Iranian calendar year (March 2008 - March 2009) reached $418 million.
There is an estimated population of 1.2 million weavers in Iran producing carpets for domestic markets and international export.
In recent times Iranian carpets have come under fierce competition from other countries producing fakes of the original Iranian designs as well as genuine cheaper substitutes.
Persian carpets can be divided into three groups; Farsh / ''Qalii'' (sized anything greater than 6x4 feet), Qalicheh (meaning rug, sized 6x4 feet and smaller), and nomadic carpets known as Kilim, (including Zilu, meaning rough carpet).
CAPTION: The 18th international hand-woven carpet exhibition of Iran held at the Tehran Permanent International Fairgrounds from September 23 to 29