Salem’s silver anklet manufacturers have reported an over 80% decline in silver requirements for Deepavali production, with orders falling to below 2,000 kg from the usual 10,000 kg, according to a media report.

Salem has around 10,000 silver anklet manufacturing units employing more than 1.15 lakh people. Manufacturers said festive orders, which typically begin arriving nearly two months before Deepavali, have remained weak this season, leaving units with limited production work.

C Sri Anandarajan, president of the Salem District Kolusu Manufacturers Kaivinai Sangam, said the volume of silver required for anklet production had fallen sharply this year. The decline comes despite silver prices easing by more than Rs 30,000 per kg compared with January 2026, with lower prices yet to translate into a recovery in orders.

Demand has also weakened in key markets, including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana. Manufacturers reported fewer orders from these states as well as from local jewellery retailers, affecting the flow of work across the manufacturing cluster.

The slowdown has implications for the industry’s network of specialised workers, who undertake different stages of anklet production across multiple units. With fewer orders coming in, daily-wage workers are facing reduced employment opportunities.

The situation contrasts with the previous Deepavali season, when manufacturers faced silver shortages. This year, raw material availability is less of a concern, but weak demand has emerged as the primary challenge for the cluster ahead of the festive selling period.