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Raw materials

Import synthetic woven and knitted fabrics

Duty is usually “20% or a fixed rupee amount, whichever is higher”. China supplies more than half.

Free to importHS 5407 / 6006
Basic customs duty
10–20%
5407: mostly 20%, or a fixed amount per sq m or kg if higher (varies by line); 6006: 10% for cotton lines, and 20% or Rs 115 per kg, whichever is higher, for listed synthetic and cotton-dyed lines
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD
IGST
5%
5%
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 757 mn
from 47 countries

For 5407 the tariff gives each 8-digit line its own “20% or Rs X per square metre/kg, whichever is higher” rate (Customs Tariff as on 30.06.2025) — read your line. For knitted fabric, the Finance Bill 2025 set “20% or Rs 115 per kg, whichever is higher” for 6004 10 00, 6004 90 00, 6006 22 00, 6006 31 00 to 6006 34 00, 6006 42 00 and 6006 90 00. Check the effective rate on ICEGATE; FTA partners may get lower rates with a certificate of origin. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (as on 30.06.2025) ↗

What is imported

Garment makers, traders in Surat, Delhi and Mumbai, and home-textile units import polyester and nylon woven fabrics and knitted fabrics for sportswear, linings and fashion. In FY 2025-26 imports were about US$ 409 million under 5407 and US$ 349 million under 6006 (TradeStat); China supplied over half of each.

Import policy · Free to import

Free under ITC(HS). Fabric imported duty-free under an Advance Authorisation must be used to make export goods.

Licences and registrations you need

  • DGFTAdvance Authorisation if you import fabric duty-free to make garments for export.dgft.gov.in ↗
  • BISCheck whether any textile quality control order covers your fabric (some technical textiles are covered).bis.gov.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Fibre content, weave or knit, and weight per square metre — these decide the 8-digit code and the specific duty.
  • Customs compares the declared value per metre or kg with the specific (rupee) duty to see which is higher.
  • Lab test of samples if the fibre declaration is doubtful.

Practical tips

  • Get the fibre composition and GSM in writing on the invoice and packing list; vague descriptions lead to lab tests and delay.
  • Work out duty both ways (percentage and per kg) before you agree a price — on cheap fabric the per-kg amount usually applies.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Under-invoicing fabric — customs uses its value data and the specific duty floor, so it rarely saves money and can bring penalties.
  • Selling fabric imported under an Advance Authorisation in the local market.
Sources (7)
  1. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (as on 30.06.2025)
  2. Finance Bill 2025 — knitted fabric duty "20% or Rs 115 per kg"
  3. CBIC — Notification 45/2025-Customs (effective duty rates), 24 Oct 2025, as amended
  4. DGFT — ITC(HS) import policy (Schedule 1)
  5. Bureau of Indian Standards — product certification and QCOs
  6. Commerce Ministry TradeStat — commodity-wise imports by country (FY 2025-26)
  7. ICEGATE — Customs duty and tariff look-up

Import data

Where India buys synthetic woven and knitted fabrics

India’s imports from the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, financial years.

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 757 mn
Change from 2024-25
+0.4%
Supplying countries
47
Biggest supplier
China
58%
China: US$ 438 mnMalaysia: US$ 58.7 mnIndonesia: US$ 55.6 mnVietnam: US$ 49.8 mnBangladesh: US$ 31.8 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 29.3 mnThailand: US$ 21.2 mnTaiwan: US$ 18.1 mnSouth Korea: US$ 13.8 mnSingapore: US$ 6.9 mnHong Kong: US$ 6.7 mnSri Lanka: US$ 5.3 mnBelgium: US$ 3.8 mnJapan: US$ 3.5 mnItaly: US$ 2.7 mnChina: US$ 438 mnChinaMalaysia: US$ 58.7 mnMalaysiaIndonesia: US$ 55.6 mnIndonesiaVietnam: US$ 49.8 mnVietnamBangladesh: US$ 31.8 mnBangladeshUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 29.3 mnUnited Arab EmiratesThailand: US$ 21.2 mnTaiwan: US$ 18.1 mnSouth Korea: US$ 13.8 mnSingapore: US$ 6.9 mnHong Kong: US$ 6.7 mnSri Lanka: US$ 5.3 mnBelgium: US$ 3.8 mnJapan: US$ 3.5 mnItaly: US$ 2.7 mnIndia
Where India imports synthetic woven and knitted fabrics from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 509 mn5092020-212021-22: US$ 676 mn6762021-222022-23: US$ 693 mn6932022-232023-24: US$ 711 mn7112023-242024-25: US$ 754 mn7542024-252025-26: US$ 757 mn7572025-26
India’s synthetic woven and knitted fabrics imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1ChinaUS$ 438 mn-9.4%
2MalaysiaUS$ 58.7 mn+96.3%
3IndonesiaUS$ 55.6 mn+23.6%
4VietnamUS$ 49.8 mn+47.7%
5BangladeshUS$ 31.8 mn-4.2%
6United Arab EmiratesUS$ 29.3 mn-6.4%
7ThailandUS$ 21.2 mn+34.5%
8TaiwanUS$ 18.1 mn-17.3%
9South KoreaUS$ 13.8 mn-3.5%
10SingaporeUS$ 6.9 mn+50.3%
11Hong KongUS$ 6.7 mn-23.7%
12Sri LankaUS$ 5.3 mn-39.6%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. MalaysiaUS$ 29.9 mn → US$ 58.7 mn+96.3%
  2. VietnamUS$ 33.7 mn → US$ 49.8 mn+47.7%
  3. ThailandUS$ 15.7 mn → US$ 21.2 mn+34.5%
  4. IndonesiaUS$ 45 mn → US$ 55.6 mn+23.6%

Shrinking sources

  1. Sri LankaUS$ 8.8 mn → US$ 5.3 mn-39.6%
  2. Hong KongUS$ 8.7 mn → US$ 6.7 mn-23.7%
  3. TaiwanUS$ 21.9 mn → US$ 18.1 mn-17.3%

Which forms come in, and at what price

Imports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Others-of-woven fabrics,dyed,containing by weight>=85% textured polyester fi...5407 52 90US$ 225 mn+24.7%387 mn m²US$ 0.58 per m²
Other knitd or crochetd fbrcs of syn fibrs, dyed6006 32 00US$ 134 mn-11.6%27,571 tonnesUS$ 4.85 per kg
Other knitd or crochetd fbrcs of artifcl fibres of diffrnt colr6006 43 00US$ 83.9 mn+191.5%45,634 tonnesUS$ 1.84 per kg
Others-of-woven fabrics,containing 85% or more by weight of non-texture...5407 61 90US$ 48.8 mn+7.2%2.43 bn m²US$ 0.02 per m²
Other knited or crochetd fbrcs of cotton , dyed6006 22 00US$ 36.2 mn-45%8,640 tonnesUS$ 4.19 per kg
Other knitd or crochetd fbrcs of syn fibres,printd6006 34 00US$ 27.3 mn-52.3%7,765 tonnesUS$ 3.52 per kg
Others-of-woven fabrics containing by weight>=85% of filaments of nylon or o...5407 42 90US$ 24.6 mn+19.6%15.7 mn m²US$ 1.57 per m²
Other knited or crochetd fbrcs of cotton yarn of diffrnt colr6006 23 00US$ 22.2 mn+4.2%10,877 tonnesUS$ 2.04 per kg
Other synthtic woven fabrics,dyed5407 92 00US$ 14.2 mn+281.5%11.6 mn m²US$ 1.23 per m²
Wovn fbrcs contnng 85% or more by weight of other thn nn-txtrd polystr...5407 69 00US$ 12 mn+21%10.7 mn m²US$ 1.12 per m²
Other knitd or crochetd fbrcs of syn fibresof diffrnt colr6006 33 00US$ 10.3 mn+15.4%1,711 tonnesUS$ 6.01 per kg
Other knitd or crochetd fbrcs of artifcl fibres , dyed6006 42 00US$ 9.9 mn-81.3%2,026 tonnesUS$ 4.88 per kg

Source: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

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