India Exports Hair Waste to China, Transforming It into Valuable Commodity

Topic: geopoliticsRegion: AsiaUpdated: i4 outletsSources: 7⚠ Bias gap — sources divergeSpectrum: Mixed⏱ 3 min read📡 Wire pickup: 2

📰 Scored from 4 outletsacross 2 Left 2 Center How we score bias →

Story Summary

SITUATION

India has shifted from discarding hair to exporting it to China, where it is valued as 'black gold'. This trade highlights a unique economic relationship between the two nations, despite their border tensions.

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Spectrum: Mixed🌍Asia: 5 · US: 1 · Other: 1

Political Spectrum

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i4 outlets · Center

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Center

Right

Left: 3

Center: 4

Right: 0

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Distribution of where coverage is coming from.

i4 unique outlets · Dominant: Asia

All7 US/CA1 · 14%Asia5 · 71%Global1 · 14%

KEY FACTS

But now, selling your hair in the market is an option that yields a return based on the amount you sell.
This entire operation is centred around two countries, India and China.
The wig capital of the world, Xuchang, is located in the heart of Henan province in China.
The city has a history of working with hair that spans generations and has grown stronger in recent decades, coming to dominate the global market.
“China, as the state whose rights and interests have been injured, is entitled to invoke the responsibility of Japan and the Philippines for their internationally wrongful acts,” the statement said.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The trade in human hair between India and China has become a significant economic activity, particularly as the demand for wigs and hair extensions has surged globally. This trade has been particularly lucrative in recent years, with local Indian entrepreneurs capitalizing on the previously discarded hair, transforming it into a profitable export commodity.

The city of Xuchang in Henan province, China, known as the "wig capital of the world," has played a central role in this burgeoning market, where small workshops have evolved into large-scale manufacturing operations. The historical tradition of hair processing in Xuchang has deep roots, contributing to its status as a hub for hair products.

Brief

India has transformed its discarded hair into a profitable export to China, where it is referred to as 'black gold'. This shift marks a significant change in how Indians perceive and utilize their hair, which was once thrown away without a second thought. Now, individuals can sell their hair in the market, earning money based on the quantity they provide.

The trade is centered around two countries: India, where the hair is sourced, and China, where it is processed and sold, particularly in Xuchang, the global hub for wig production. Xuchang has a rich history of hair processing that has developed over generations, allowing it to dominate the global market in recent decades.

Despite ongoing border tensions between India and China, the economic relationship between the two nations remains robust, particularly in this niche market. The growing demand for hair in China has turned what was once waste into a valuable commodity, showcasing an innovative approach to resource utilization in India.

Where sources differ

Bias gap0.70 / 2.0

Left- and right-leaning outlets are covering this story differently — in which facts to emphasize, which context to include, and how to frame causes and consequences.

Left-leaning (2)

scmp_china-0.80

China sends warning to Japan and the Philippines over ‘wrongful’ maritime talks China sends warning to Japan and the Philippines over ‘wrongful’ maritime talks China sends warning …

bloomberg.com-0.80

China Ramps Up Warning to Japan, Philippines Over Sea Talks - Bloomberg.com. Reporting is limited at this stage.

Center (4)

the_hindutimes_of_indiastraitstimes.comtheedgesingapore.com

Right-leaning (1)

news.az+0.20

China rebukes Japan and the Philippines over maritime talks - Latest news from Azerbaijan. Reporting is limited at this stage.

Sources

7 of 7 linked articles