Political unrest affects rug sourcing, but retailer copes with changes

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 18, 2013

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Wars and other unrest in traditional rug producing countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Egypt has changed the sourcing picture, but a retailer here told the local Journal Gazette newspaper he is adjusting to the changes.

"Many of the countries that formerly produced a fair number of rugs continue to do so but to a much lesser extent," Robert D. Anderson, owner of Aaron's Oriental Rug Gallery here, said in an interview with the newspaper. "And, many countries that did not do as much rug-weaving in the past are in the forefront today."

One country where supply has been affected, however, is China, he said. The country has been exporting fewer rugs, and cheaper rugs, as its industrial base has broadened and the government has focused production on other products, he said.

He told the Journal Gazette that today, the top sources of Oriental style rugs are India and Nepal.