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Import polyester staple fibre

Spinners and non-woven makers import PSF; 5% BCD, 5% IGST, and the BIS QCO was withdrawn in November 2025.

Free to importHS 5503
Basic customs duty
5%
5%
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD
IGST
5%
5%
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 214 mn
from 32 countries

The CBIC Customs Tariff lists 5503 20 00 (of polyesters) at 5%. IGST fell to 5% from 22 September 2025 (Schedule I, entry 5503, 5504, 5506, 5507 of Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)). The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals withdrew the Quality Control Order for PSF by a gazette notification of 12 November 2025, so BIS certification is no longer needed for import. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (import tariff, chapter PDFs) ↗

What is imported

Polyester staple fibre is spun alone or blended with cotton and viscose, and used in non-wovens and fillings. India makes a lot of PSF but imports special deniers and recycled grades; imports of heading 5503 were about US$ 214 million in 2025-26, led by China, Thailand and Indonesia (TradeStat).

Import policy · Free to import

Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 1.

Anti-dumping and safeguard duty

  • No anti-dumping duty on PSF was found in force when checked (Nov 2026). Check DGTR for new investigations before signing large contracts.

Licences and registrations you need

  • BIS (Quality Control Orders)The PSF QCO was withdrawn on 12 November 2025. Keep checking the BIS QCO list, because orders can be reissued.bis.gov.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Denier, cut length and grade (virgin or recycled) on the invoice, matching the test report.
  • Country of origin, because trade-agreement rates and trade-remedy duties depend on it.
  • Valuation of low-priced lots.

Practical tips

  • Run a trial lot through your spinning line before a large order; tenacity and finish vary between mills.
  • For recycled PSF, ask for a recycled-content certificate your buyers accept.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Relying on an old supplier certificate after a policy change — check the current QCO and duty position each time.
  • Mixed bales of different deniers that cause yarn faults.
Sources (6)
  1. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (import tariff, chapter PDFs)
  2. CBIC — Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate), in force 22.09.2025
  3. Bureau of Indian Standards — product certification and Quality Control Orders
  4. DGTR — anti-dumping investigations and final findings
  5. DGFT — ITC(HS) import policy (Schedule 1)
  6. Commerce Ministry TradeStat — commodity-wise imports by country (FY 2025-26)

Import data

Where India buys polyester staple fibre

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

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 214 mn
Change from 2024-25
+7.8%
Supplying countries
32
Biggest supplier
China
42%
China: US$ 89 mnThailand: US$ 37 mnIndonesia: US$ 18.9 mnSouth Korea: US$ 13.6 mnJapan: US$ 12.5 mnMalaysia: US$ 7.6 mnUnited States of America: US$ 6.7 mnBelgium: US$ 6.2 mnTaiwan: US$ 5.3 mnGermany: US$ 4.4 mnTürkiye: US$ 4.2 mnFrance: US$ 2 mnBangladesh: US$ 1.8 mnHong Kong: US$ 1 mnNetherlands: US$ 1 mnChina: US$ 89 mnChinaThailand: US$ 37 mnThailandIndonesia: US$ 18.9 mnIndonesiaSouth Korea: US$ 13.6 mnJapan: US$ 12.5 mnMalaysia: US$ 7.6 mnMalaysiaUnited States of America: US$ 6.7 mnUnited States of AmericaBelgium: US$ 6.2 mnBelgiumTaiwan: US$ 5.3 mnGermany: US$ 4.4 mnTürkiye: US$ 4.2 mnFrance: US$ 2 mnBangladesh: US$ 1.8 mnHong Kong: US$ 1 mnNetherlands: US$ 1 mnIndia
Where India imports polyester staple fibre from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 158 mn1582020-212021-22: US$ 200 mn2002021-222022-23: US$ 228 mn2282022-232023-24: US$ 173 mn1732023-242024-25: US$ 199 mn1992024-252025-26: US$ 214 mn2142025-26
India’s polyester staple fibre imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1ChinaUS$ 89 mn+30.4%
2ThailandUS$ 37 mn-0.2%
3IndonesiaUS$ 18.9 mn+0.4%
4South KoreaUS$ 13.6 mn-5%
5JapanUS$ 12.5 mn+9.2%
6MalaysiaUS$ 7.6 mn-8.9%
7United States of AmericaUS$ 6.7 mn-4.4%
8BelgiumUS$ 6.2 mn-27.6%
9TaiwanUS$ 5.3 mn-29.3%
10GermanyUS$ 4.4 mn+15.7%
11TürkiyeUS$ 4.2 mn+95.8%
12FranceUS$ 2 mn+15.3%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. TürkiyeUS$ 2.1 mn → US$ 4.2 mn+95.8%
  2. ChinaUS$ 68.3 mn → US$ 89 mn+30.4%
  3. GermanyUS$ 3.8 mn → US$ 4.4 mn+15.7%

Shrinking sources

  1. NetherlandsUS$ 2.3 mn → US$ 1 mn-55.1%
  2. BangladeshUS$ 2.9 mn → US$ 1.8 mn-37.5%
  3. TaiwanUS$ 7.5 mn → US$ 5.3 mn-29.3%
  4. BelgiumUS$ 8.6 mn → US$ 6.2 mn-27.6%

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
Staple fibres of polyester not crd/cmbd5503 20 00US$ 94 mn+15.2%88,878 tonnesUS$ 1.06 per kg
Other staple fibrs of acrlc/modacrlc not crd/cmbd5503 30 90US$ 37.1 mn+6%16,061 tonnesUS$ 2.31 per kg
Others-of-other staple fibres,not carded or combed5503 90 90US$ 31.5 mn-10.1%14,956 tonnesUS$ 2.11 per kg
Aramid flame retardant fibre5503 11 10US$ 17.2 mn-18.9%1,279 tonnesUS$ 13.45 per kg
Fibres, synthetic staple fibres, of nylon or other polyamides other than aramids, not carded, combed or… — nylon staple fibre5503 19 10US$ 11.9 mn+8.4%3,736 tonnesUS$ 3.20 per kg
Staple fibrs of polypropylene not crd/cmbd5503 40 00US$ 11.2 mn+47%9,151 tonnesUS$ 1.22 per kg
Others-of-others-of-synthetic staple fibres, not carded,combed or o...5503 19 90US$ 4.7 mn+27.6%672 tonnesUS$ 7.02 per kg
Fibres, synthetic staple fibres, of aramids, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning — other fibre of aramids5503 11 90US$ 2.2 mn+209.7%211 tonnesUS$ 10.58 per kg
Nylon anti static staple fibre5503 19 20US$ 1.8 mn+68.9%29 tonnesUS$ 62.76 per kg
Fibres, synthetic staple fibres, of aramids, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning — para-aramid fibre5503 11 20US$ 1.7 mn+19.6%77 tonnesUS$ 21.54 per kg
Pre oxidised acrylic or modacrylic fibre, conforming to is 173085503 30 10US$ 440k+238.5%67 tonnesUS$ 6.58 per kg
Nylon 66 fibre conforming to is 134645503 19 30US$ 120k+50%20 tonnesUS$ 6.06 per kg

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

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