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Export brooms and brushes

Grass brooms, toothbrushes, paint and artist brushes; the USA, Belgium, Brazil and Germany buy most.

Free to exportHS 9603
HS code
9603
Brooms and brushes: grass and twig brooms (9603 10), toothbrushes, artist and cosmetic brushes, paint brushes and rollers, machine brushes and mops (9603).
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2. Brushes made from the hair of protected wild animals (for example mongoose hair) are illegal under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and cannot be exported.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 124 mn
to 117 countries

What is exported

India exports grass and coconut-leaf brooms, toothbrushes, paint brushes and rollers, artist and cosmetic brushes and industrial brushes. Buyers are hardware and household chains, oral-care brands, art-supply distributors and cleaning-product importers. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 124 million under HS 9603; the USA led, followed by Belgium, Brazil, Germany and the UAE.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Grass and coconut-leaf broomsSoft grass brooms (phool jhadu) and stiff coconut-rib brooms (HS 9603 10).
  • ToothbrushesPlastic and bamboo-handle toothbrushes, often private label (HS 9603 21).
  • Paint brushes and rollersFor decorators and hardware stores (HS 9603 40).
  • Artist and cosmetic brushesSynthetic-fibre brushes; never use protected wild-animal hair (HS 9603 30).

Where it is grown or made

  • Meghalaya, Assam and MizoramBroom-grass growing and broom-making areas
  • Odisha and KeralaGrass and coconut-leaf brooms
  • Maharashtra and GujaratMumbai, Thane and Ahmedabad — toothbrush and paint-brush factories
  • Delhi NCR and PunjabBrush and roller makers

Export packing

  • Brooms tied in bundles, wrapped and packed in bales or cartons; dried and treated to keep insects out.
  • Toothbrushes and paint brushes in retail blister packs or printed sleeves with barcodes, then master cartons.

Who buys abroad

  • Household and cleaning-product importers
  • Oral-care brands and supermarket private labels
  • Hardware and DIY chains
  • Diaspora grocery wholesalers (grass brooms)

The quality buyers ask for

Broom grass
Dry, clean, insect-free grass; length and bundle weight as ordered
Toothbrushes
Bristle type (soft/medium/hard), end-rounding, tuft retention; ISO 20126 as the reference standard
Paint brushes
Filament type, width, bristle length and pull-out strength
Handles
Wood, bamboo or plastic; smooth, crack-free and fixed firmly

Certificates

  • Phytosanitary certificateOften askedFor grass, twig and leaf brooms where the importing country requires it.
  • Fumigation certificateOften askedOften asked for plant-material brooms and wooden handles.
  • ISO 9001 / ISO 13485Often askedQuality systems for toothbrush makers selling to oral-care brands (some markets treat toothbrushes as medical devices).
  • FSCOften askedFor wooden or bamboo handles sold with sustainability claims.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Brooms are light and bulky, so containers fill by volume; a 40-ft high-cube is usual. Brushes in cartons typically go LCL for first orders.

How it travels

Sea from Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Chennai or Nhava Sheva; road to Nepal and Bangladesh.

Storage

Keep brooms dry and ventilated to prevent mould and insects.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Retail sleeve or tag: product name, size, material, barcode and "Made in India".
  • Toothbrushes: bristle hardness and the importer's details in the local language.
  • Carton marks with item code, quantity and weight.
Where to get it tested

Plant-quarantine inspection and phytosanitary certificates come from the Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage offices at major ports. For toothbrush and brush tests, search the NABL directory; CIPET tests plastic parts.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • PLEXCONCILPlastic toothbrushes and bristle products are covered by PLEXCONCIL (Appendix 2T lists bristles and products made mainly of plastics).plexconcil.org ↗
  • EPCH / FIEOHandmade grass and coconut-leaf brooms can register with EPCH as handicrafts; otherwise take the RCMC from FIEO.epch.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Grass, twig and leaf brooms are plant products: many countries (for example Australia) set import conditions and may need a phytosanitary certificate or treatment — check before you ship.
  • Toothbrushes: buyers ask for food-grade or approved materials and tests for bristle retention and end-rounding (ISO 20126 is the international standard).
  • Brushes with animal hair or bristle: some countries apply animal by-product rules — confirm with the importer.
How to start small

Choose one line: grass brooms from the North-East or Odisha for Gulf and diaspora grocery importers, or paint brushes for hardware distributors. Get the plant-health requirements of the buyer country in writing, prepare printed sleeves or barcoded labels, and ship a first consolidated container.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Insects or seeds found in grass brooms at the destination — the lot is treated at your cost or destroyed.
  • Using wild-animal hair in artist brushes — illegal in India and a serious offence.
  • Bristles falling out of paint brushes — buyers test this first; agree a retention test in the contract.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (7)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 9603 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  4. PLEXCONCIL (Plastics Export Promotion Council) — official site
  5. EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts) — official site
  6. FIEO — Federation of Indian Export Organisations (RCMC for products without a specific council)
  7. Australian Government — BICON import conditions database

Trade data

Indian brooms and brushes exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 124 mn
+5.9% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +9.5%
US$ 113 mn → US$ 124 mn
Buyer countries
117
Average export price
US$ 0.20
per kg · 6,29,840 tonnes shipped · US$ 0.20 the year before
United States of America: US$ 24.9 mnBelgium: US$ 15.5 mnBrazil: US$ 8.1 mnGermany: US$ 7.9 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 7.7 mnMexico: US$ 4.8 mnNepal: US$ 4.3 mnNetherlands: US$ 4.3 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 4 mnSouth Korea: US$ 3.2 mnIndonesia: US$ 2.1 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 2.1 mnRussia: US$ 2 mnAustralia: US$ 2 mnSouth Africa: US$ 1.8 mnItaly: US$ 1.8 mnChile: US$ 1.7 mnMalaysia: US$ 1.5 mnIsrael: US$ 1.4 mnEgypt: US$ 1.1 mnPoland: US$ 1.1 mnBangladesh: US$ 1.1 mnFrance: US$ 960kSpain: US$ 940kColombia: US$ 920kUnited States of America: US$ 24.9 mnUnited States of AmericaBelgium: US$ 15.5 mnBelgiumBrazil: US$ 8.1 mnBrazilGermany: US$ 7.9 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 7.7 mnUnited Arab EmiratesMexico: US$ 4.8 mnMexicoNepal: US$ 4.3 mnNepalNetherlands: US$ 4.3 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 4 mnSouth Korea: US$ 3.2 mnIndonesia: US$ 2.1 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 2.1 mnRussia: US$ 2 mnAustralia: US$ 2 mnSouth Africa: US$ 1.8 mnItaly: US$ 1.8 mnChile: US$ 1.7 mnMalaysia: US$ 1.5 mnIsrael: US$ 1.4 mnEgypt: US$ 1.1 mnPoland: US$ 1.1 mnBangladesh: US$ 1.1 mnFrance: US$ 960kSpain: US$ 940kColombia: US$ 920kIndia
Where Indian brooms and brushes goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 92.9 mn932020-212021-22: US$ 124 mn1242021-222022-23: US$ 131 mn1312022-232023-24: US$ 110 mn1102023-242024-25: US$ 113 mn1132024-252025-26: US$ 124 mn1242025-26
India’s brooms and brushes exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2020-21, lowest in 2025-26 — a 42% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 0.28 per kg0.282021-22: US$ 0.23 per kg2022-23: US$ 0.22 per kg2024-25: US$ 0.20 per kg2025-26: US$ 0.20 per kg0.202020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian brooms and brushes · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 92.9 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 124 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 131 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 110 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 113 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 124 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 127 mn (US$ 107 mn – US$ 150 mn)1272026-272027-28: US$ 130 mn (US$ 108 mn – US$ 158 mn)1302027-28
India’s brooms and brushes exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 130 mn

Likely range US$ 108 mn to US$ 158 mn.

Trend
+2.8% a year
Fit (R²)
0.18 — weak, read with care
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 24.9 mn+13.2%
2BelgiumUS$ 15.5 mn+33.6%
3BrazilUS$ 8.1 mn+2.5%
4GermanyUS$ 7.9 mn-1.1%
5United Arab EmiratesUS$ 7.7 mn+3.9%
6MexicoUS$ 4.8 mn+89.2%
7NepalUS$ 4.3 mn-8.8%
8NetherlandsUS$ 4.3 mn+83.8%
9United KingdomUS$ 4 mn+4.9%
10South KoreaUS$ 3.2 mn+7.5%
11IndonesiaUS$ 2.1 mn-10.5%
12Saudi ArabiaUS$ 2.1 mn-7%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. MexicoUS$ 2.5 mn → US$ 4.8 mn+89.2%
  2. NetherlandsUS$ 2.3 mn → US$ 4.3 mn+83.8%
  3. South AfricaUS$ 1.3 mn → US$ 1.8 mn+41.1%
  4. BelgiumUS$ 11.6 mn → US$ 15.5 mn+33.6%
  5. ChileUS$ 1.5 mn → US$ 1.7 mn+16.3%
  6. United States of AmericaUS$ 22 mn → US$ 24.9 mn+13.2%
  7. RussiaUS$ 1.8 mn → US$ 2 mn+10%

Low demand

  1. IsraelUS$ 2 mn → US$ 1.4 mn-31.5%
  2. ColombiaUS$ 1.3 mn → US$ 920k-26.4%
  3. ItalyUS$ 2.3 mn → US$ 1.8 mn-22.7%
  4. AustraliaUS$ 2.3 mn → US$ 2 mn-12.9%
  5. IndonesiaUS$ 2.4 mn → US$ 2.1 mn-10.5%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Brushes, toothbrushes — tooth brushes9603 21 00US$ 91.8 mn+16%441 mn piecesUS$ 0.21 per piecewas US$ 0.21
Other articles of hdg 96039603 90 00 · Brooms, brushes, mops, feather dusters, squeegees, hand operated mechanical floor sweepers,, prepared knots…US$ 10.5 mn-16.8%24.2 mn piecesUS$ 0.43 per piecewas US$ 0.40
Brushes, artists' brushes, writing brushes and similar brushes for the application of cosmetics — artist brushes9603 30 10US$ 7 mn-5.4%18.8 mn piecesUS$ 0.37 per piecewas US$ 0.41
Brooms and brushes,constng of twigs/other vgtbl mtrls bound togthr,with/wtht hndls9603 10 00 · Brooms and brushes, consisting of twigs or other vegetable materials bound together, with or without handlesUS$ 5.6 mn+4.5%17.9 mn piecesUS$ 0.31 per piecewas US$ 0.32
Other brshs constng parts of mchns,vehicles etc.9603 50 00 · Brushes, constituting parts of machines, appliances or vehiclesUS$ 4 mn+12%2.9 mn piecesUS$ 1.39 per piecewas US$ 1.13
Savng,hair,nail,eyelash and for prsonal use,constutng parts of applncs9603 29 00 · Brushes, shaving, hair, nail, eyelash and other toilet brushes for use on the person, including brushes as…US$ 2.3 mn-0.4%101 mn piecesUS$ 0.02 per piecewas US$ 0.02
Other brushes under sub-hdng 9603309603 30 90 · Brushes, artists' brushes, writing brushes and similar brushes for the application of cosmeticsUS$ 1.1 mn-29.5%2.4 mn piecesUS$ 0.44 per piecewas US$ 0.72
Brushes for the application of cosmetics9603 30 20 · Brushes, artists' brushes, writing brushes and similar brushes for the application of cosmeticsUS$ 630k+142.3%12.2 mn piecesUS$ 0.05 per piecewas US$ 0.03
Brushes, paint, distemper, varnish or similar brushes, paint pads and rollers — paint pads and rollers9603 40 20US$ 470k-7.8%8.3 mn piecesUS$ 0.06 per piecewas US$ 0.06
Paint, distemper, varnish or similar brush9603 40 10 · Brushes, paint, distemper, varnish or similar brushes, paint pads and rollersUS$ 320k+28%1.6 mn piecesUS$ 0.20 per piecewas US$ 0.31

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 10.8 bn
2023
India among exporters
#18
of 156 countries
India’s share of world exports
0.9%
US$ 115 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 12.7 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 6.66 bn 51.9%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 1.34 bn 10.4%
  3. 3USAUS$ 479 mn 3.7%
  4. 4NetherlandsUS$ 339 mn 2.6%
  5. 5ItalyUS$ 278 mn 2.2%
  6. 6PolandUS$ 276 mn 2.1%
  7. 7CzechiaUS$ 241 mn 1.9%
  8. 8SwitzerlandUS$ 230 mn 1.8%
  9. 9MexicoUS$ 220 mn 1.7%
  10. 10FranceUS$ 204 mn 1.6%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 1.89 bn 17.5%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 1.09 bn 10%
  3. 3FranceUS$ 525 mn 4.8%
  4. 4United KingdomUS$ 479 mn 4.4%
  5. 5JapanUS$ 430 mn 4%
  6. 6NetherlandsUS$ 377 mn 3.5%
  7. 7CanadaUS$ 366 mn 3.4%
  8. 8PolandUS$ 280 mn 2.6%
  9. 9ItalyUS$ 253 mn 2.3%
  10. 10Rep. of KoreaUS$ 249 mn 2.3%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 2.06 bnIndia 1% · gap US$ 2.04 bn
GermanyUS$ 1.17 bnIndia 1.9% · gap US$ 1.15 bn
FranceUS$ 557 mnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 554 mn
United KingdomUS$ 479 mnIndia 2% · gap US$ 469 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 433 mnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 432 mn
JapanUS$ 422 mnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 421 mn
CanadaUS$ 368 mnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 365 mn
South KoreaUS$ 272 mnIndia 1.2% · gap US$ 269 mn
ItalyUS$ 269 mnIndia 1% · gap US$ 266 mn
SpainUS$ 221 mnIndia 0.6% · gap US$ 219 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export brooms and brushes

China is the largest exporter of brushes of every kind, with Germany, Vietnam and several EU countries also strong in toothbrushes, paint brushes and technical brushes. India exports a mix of low-cost toothbrushes and paint brushes and natural brooms made from broom grass and coconut leaf, a product few other countries make at scale. Demand is steady, driven by household cleaning, oral care and home improvement. Buyers increasingly want plastic-free options such as bamboo toothbrushes and natural-fibre brooms. Openings are in natural brooms for diaspora and eco-minded retailers, private-label toothbrushes and paint brushes for hardware chains.

  1. 01Choose line and buyer

    Decide between natural brooms, toothbrushes or paint brushes and target the right buyer.

  2. 02Check import conditions

    For plant-material brooms, get the destination's plant-health rules in writing.

  3. 03Register

    IEC, GST LUT and RCMC (PLEXCONCIL, EPCH or FIEO).

  4. 04Make and treat

    Dry, clean and treat brooms; test brushes for bristle retention.

  5. 05Pack and certify

    Pack with labels; obtain phytosanitary or fumigation certificates if needed.

  6. 06Ship and claim

    File the shipping bill, claim RoDTEP (0.5%) and drawback (1.2%).

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting brooms and brushes

Do grass brooms need a phytosanitary certificate?
It depends on the destination. Countries with strict biosecurity (for example Australia) set conditions; check their import database and your buyer's instructions.
Can I use animal hair in brushes?
Hair from protected wild animals such as the mongoose is illegal in India. Hog bristle and synthetic fibres are lawful, but some markets apply animal by-product checks.
What is the RoDTEP rate?
0.5% of FOB for every 9603 line in Appendix 4R.
Who buys Indian grass brooms?
Diaspora grocery wholesalers and household-product importers in the Gulf, UK, USA and nearby countries.
Are bamboo toothbrushes in demand?
Yes, among eco-minded retailers. Make sure the bamboo is treated against mould and that claims such as "biodegradable" are supported.
Sources (7)
  1. PLEXCONCIL (Plastics Export Promotion Council) — official site
  2. EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts) — official site
  3. FIEO — Federation of Indian Export Organisations (RCMC for products without a specific council)
  4. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories
  5. CIPET — Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (testing services)
  6. Australian Government — BICON import conditions database
  7. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10.10.2024 (Notification 32/2024-25); rates continued to 31.12.2026 by Notification 41/2026-27

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