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Textiles & apparel

Export handloom products

Hand-woven fabrics, stoles and furnishings; buyers pay for craft, story and certified handloom origin.

Free to exportHS 6304
HS code
6304
Other furnishing articles — cushion covers, bedspreads, throws, wall hangings. Handloom fabrics sit in Chapters 50–55 and handloom made-ups in Chapter 63; the 8-digit line shows whether it is handloom.
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export. Made-ups qualify for RoSCTL; handloom fabrics and other goods outside Chapters 61–63 fall under RoDTEP — check your line.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 1.75 bn
to 166 countries

What is exported

Handloom exports include cotton and silk sarees and fabrics, stoles, rugs and home furnishings from weaving clusters across India. Buyers are boutique importers, design stores and ethical-fashion brands, who value small batches and natural dyes. Commerce Department data do not separate handloom from mill-made goods at heading level; for HS 6304 as a whole the USA is the main buyer, followed by the UK, Germany, Canada and Australia.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Handloom furnishings — cushion covers, throws, curtainsThe main export line (HS 6304); Karur and Panipat handlooms make them for home-decor buyers.
  • Handloom rugs and durriesFlat-woven cotton and wool durries from Panipat, Agra, Navalgund and Warangal.
  • Handloom fabrics and yardageKhadi, ikat and jacquard fabric sold by the metre to designers and brands.
  • Saris, stoles and scarvesBanarasi, Kanchipuram, Pochampally ikat and Chanderi — mostly to the Indian diaspora and fashion boutiques.

Where it is grown or made

  • Tamil NaduKarur (made-ups), Kancheepuram (silk), Madurai
  • HaryanaPanipat — handloom furnishings and durries
  • Uttar PradeshVaranasi (Banaras brocades), Mirzapur and Agra (durries)
  • Telangana and Andhra PradeshPochampally (ikat), Warangal (durries)
  • KeralaKannur — handloom furnishings and fabrics
  • West Bengal and OdishaNadia, Hooghly and Sambalpur — saris and fabrics

Export packing

  • Pieces are folded with tissue, packed in polybags or cloth bags, and then in 5-ply cartons; silk is kept dry with silica gel.
  • Swing tags often carry the Handloom Mark or India Handloom Brand and the weaver cluster's story, which buyers value.
  • Fibre-content and care labels are required in most markets.

Who buys abroad

  • Home-decor and lifestyle brands
  • Fair-trade and sustainable-fashion retailers
  • Importers who supply boutiques and gift shops
  • Indian diaspora stores (saris and ethnic wear)

The quality buyers ask for

Fibre and yarn
Fibre content (cotton, silk, wool, linen, blends) and yarn counts for warp and weft
Construction
Ends and picks per inch, width (often narrower than mill fabric), GSM
Colour fastness
To washing, rubbing and light (ISO 105 series); natural dyes need extra testing as fastness varies
Shrinkage
Dimensional change after washing; handloom fabric often shrinks more, so pre-wash or state it
Acceptable variation
Slubs and slight colour variation are part of hand weaving; agree in writing what is a feature and what is a defect

Certificates

  • Handloom Mark / India Handloom BrandOften askedGovernment marks that certify a product is hand-woven (and, for IHB, meets quality and zero-defect norms).
  • Silk MarkOften askedLabel from the Silk Mark Organisation of India confirming pure silk.
  • GI authorised userOften askedFor GI weaves such as Banarasi, Pochampally Ikat or Chanderi, register as an authorised user to use the GI name.
  • GOTSOften askedFor organic cotton handloom, if the buyer sells it as organic.
  • Fair-trade membership (WFTO or similar)Often askedSome ethical retailers buy only from fair-trade verified producer groups.
  • OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100Often askedAsked for by some European buyers for fabric touching skin.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Orders are often small: courier or air for samples and boutique lots, LCL sea freight for larger rolls and made-ups. Roll fabric on tubes and wrap in polythene and hessian or cartons.

How it travels

Air or courier for small lots; sea LCL or FCL for bigger orders.

Storage

Keep silk and wool away from moisture and insects; use naphthalene-free insect protection if the buyer bans naphthalene.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Fibre content in the buyer country's required form, and care instructions suited to hand-woven fabric.
  • 'Handwoven in India' only if true; add Handloom Mark, Silk Mark or GI logo only when registered.
  • Roll or bale tags with quality name, length, width, colour and lot.
Where to get it tested

The Weavers' Service Centres of the Ministry of Textiles test fabric and help with design. For export test reports use an NABL-accredited textile lab (search 'textiles' on the NABL directory) or a textile research association such as NITRA, BTRA, SITRA or ATIRA. For silk purity, use the Silk Mark Organisation's testing.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • HEPC (Handloom Export Promotion Council)RCMC for all handloom products: fabrics, home furnishings, carpets and floor coverings.hepcindia.com ↗
  • India Handloom Brand / Handloom Mark (Ministry of Textiles)Optional quality and authenticity labels that help buyers trust the handloom claim.indiahandloombrand.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Colour fastness and shrinkage tests, especially for natural dyes.
  • Fibre and origin labelling for the buyer's market (FTC rules in the USA, EU textile labelling in Europe).
  • Pure silk items may need silk-mark or test proof if the buyer asks; GI-tagged weaves (for example Banarasi) should use the GI name only if authorised.
How to start small

Work with one weavers' cooperative or cluster and build a small range of stoles or cushion covers with photos of the weaving. Join HEPC, take part in an HEPC-supported fair, and sell small air or courier shipments to boutiques before taking container orders.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Calling powerloom goods "handloom". It misleads buyers and can cost you the right benefit rate and your reputation.
  • Lead times: hand weaving is slow. Promise dates the weavers can actually meet.
  • Natural dyes bleeding in the buyer's wash test — test before you ship.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (6)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 6304 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. US FTC — Labeling requirements under the Textile and Wool Acts
  5. HEPC — official site
  6. Ministry of Textiles — India Handloom Brand

Trade data

Indian handloom products exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 1.75 bn
-2% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -8.6%
US$ 1.92 bn → US$ 1.75 bn
Buyer countries
166
Average export price
US$ 3.25
per kg · 5,39,210 tonnes shipped · US$ 3.09 the year before
United States of America: US$ 933 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 79.3 mnGermany: US$ 56.9 mnCanada: US$ 54.2 mnAustralia: US$ 50 mnSpain: US$ 44.8 mnFrance: US$ 44.2 mnItaly: US$ 32.4 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 27.4 mnNetherlands: US$ 25.7 mnKenya: US$ 19.4 mnSri Lanka: US$ 15.3 mnSouth Africa: US$ 13.2 mnJapan: US$ 9.6 mnUnited States of America: US$ 933 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Kingdom: US$ 79.3 mnUnited KingdomGermany: US$ 56.9 mnCanada: US$ 54.2 mnAustralia: US$ 50 mnAustraliaSpain: US$ 44.8 mnSpainFrance: US$ 44.2 mnItaly: US$ 32.4 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 27.4 mnUnited Arab EmiratesNetherlands: US$ 25.7 mnKenya: US$ 19.4 mnKenyaSri Lanka: US$ 15.3 mnSouth Africa: US$ 13.2 mnJapan: US$ 9.6 mnIndia
Where Indian handloom products goes — among our 30 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 1.94 bn1.9k2020-212021-22: US$ 2.19 bn2.2k2021-222022-23: US$ 1.78 bn1.8k2022-232023-24: US$ 1.94 bn1.9k2023-242024-25: US$ 1.92 bn1.9k2024-252025-26: US$ 1.75 bn1.8k2025-26
India’s handloom products exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2025-26, lowest in 2022-23 — a 34% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 3.09 per kg2021-22: US$ 2.46 per kg2022-23: US$ 2.42 per kg2.422024-25: US$ 3.09 per kg2025-26: US$ 3.25 per kg3.252020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian handloom products · 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$ 1.94 bn2020-212021-22: US$ 2.19 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 1.78 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 1.94 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 1.92 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 1.75 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 1.76 bn (US$ 1.59 bn – US$ 1.95 bn)1.8k2026-272027-28: US$ 1.72 bn (US$ 1.53 bn – US$ 1.93 bn)1.7k2027-28
India’s handloom products exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 1.72 bn

Likely range US$ 1.53 bn to US$ 1.93 bn.

Trend
-2.3% a year
Fit (R²)
0.3 — 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$ 933 mn-12.3%
2United KingdomUS$ 79.3 mn-2.2%
3GermanyUS$ 56.9 mn-18.5%
4CanadaUS$ 54.2 mn-20.6%
5AustraliaUS$ 50 mn-26.5%
6SpainUS$ 44.8 mn+15.1%
7FranceUS$ 44.2 mn-4.1%
8ItalyUS$ 32.4 mn-3.2%
9United Arab EmiratesUS$ 27.4 mn-10.5%
10NetherlandsUS$ 25.7 mn-13.7%
11IsraelUS$ 25 mn-18.1%
12SwedenUS$ 24 mn+36.7%

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. KenyaUS$ 4.8 mn → US$ 19.4 mn+309.3%
  2. SwedenUS$ 17.6 mn → US$ 24 mn+36.7%
  3. SpainUS$ 39 mn → US$ 44.8 mn+15.1%

Low demand

  1. DR CongoUS$ 22.7 mn → US$ 6.9 mn-69.5%
  2. AustraliaUS$ 68.1 mn → US$ 50 mn-26.5%
  3. CanadaUS$ 68.3 mn → US$ 54.2 mn-20.6%
  4. GermanyUS$ 69.8 mn → US$ 56.9 mn-18.5%
  5. IsraelUS$ 30.6 mn → US$ 25 mn-18.1%
  6. NetherlandsUS$ 29.8 mn → US$ 25.7 mn-13.7%
  7. United States of AmericaUS$ 1.06 bn → US$ 933 mn-12.3%
  8. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 30.6 mn → US$ 27.4 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
Bedsheets and bed covers of cotton6304 19 10 · Bedspreads, not knitted or crochetedUS$ 616 mn-16.7%50.6 mn piecesUS$ 12.15 per piecewas US$ 13.19
Terry towel of cotton, ntkntd/crocheted6304 92 50 · Furnishing articles, of cotton, not knitted or crochetedUS$ 191 mn-6.7%163 mn piecesUS$ 1.17 per piecewas US$ 1.04
Other bedsheets and bed covers n.e.s.6304 19 90 · Bedspreads, not knitted or crochetedUS$ 140 mn+2.2%16.7 mn piecesUS$ 8.41 per piecewas US$ 8.42
Other pillow cases and pillow slips6304 92 39 · Furnishing articles, of cotton, not knitted or crochetedUS$ 128 mn+16.2%60.3 mn piecesUS$ 2.12 per piecewas US$ 2.63
Other furnishing articles nec6304 99 99 · Furnishing articles, of textile materials other than cotton or synthetic fibres, not knitted or crochetedUS$ 122 mn-8.1%26.9 mn piecesUS$ 4.54 per piecewas US$ 5.01
Bed nets specified in sub-heading note 1 to this chapter6304 20 00 · Furnishing articles, excluding those of heading no. 9404, bed nets, specified in Subheading Note 1 to this…US$ 95.4 mn+64.7%45.5 mn piecesUS$ 2.10 per piecewas US$ 2.05
Furnishing articles, of cotton, not knitted or crocheted — other cushion covers6304 92 89US$ 83.5 mn-1.1%29.1 mn piecesUS$ 2.86 per piecewas US$ 2.68
Furnishing articles, of cotton, not knitted or crocheted — other furnishing acricles6304 92 99US$ 57.7 mn-21.3%16.4 mn piecesUS$ 3.51 per piecewas US$ 3.18
Other table cloth and table covers6304 92 49 · Furnishing articles, of cotton, not knitted or crochetedUS$ 56.1 mn-18.5%13.3 mn piecesUS$ 4.22 per piecewas US$ 4.41
Towel orht thn terry of cotton, ntkntd/crcht6304 92 60 · Furnishing articles, of cotton, not knitted or crochetedUS$ 52.9 mn-34.7%43.1 mn piecesUS$ 1.23 per piecewas US$ 1.01
Other furnishing articles of synthetic fibres,not knitted or crocheted6304 93 00 · Furnishing articles, of synthetic fibres, not knitted or crochetedUS$ 42.6 mn-9.2%8.2 mn piecesUS$ 5.20 per piecewas US$ 5.25
Bedsheets and bed covers of man-made fibres6304 19 30 · Bedspreads, not knitted or crochetedUS$ 32 mn+53.9%4.6 mn piecesUS$ 7.01 per piecewas US$ 7.33
Furnishing articles, of cotton, not knitted or crocheted — other napkins6304 92 29US$ 31.5 mn-27.9%28.5 mn piecesUS$ 1.11 per piecewas US$ 0.81
Others-of-other furnishing articls,knitted/crocheted6304 91 90 · Furnishing articles, excluding those of heading no. 9404 in heading 6304, knitted or crochetedUS$ 30.8 mn-9%6.0 mn piecesUS$ 5.11 per piecewas US$ 7.18

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$ 3.44 bn
2023
India among exporters
#2
of 148 countries
India’s share of world exports
33.2%
US$ 1.85 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 3.72 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 2.25 bn 40.4%
  2. 2IndiaUS$ 1.85 bn 33.2%
  3. 3TürkiyeUS$ 234 mn 4.2%
  4. 4Viet NamUS$ 133 mn 2.4%
  5. 5GermanyUS$ 116 mn 2.1%
  6. 6SpainUS$ 86.2 mn 1.5%
  7. 7PolandUS$ 75.1 mn 1.3%
  8. 8MexicoUS$ 53.1 mn 1%
  9. 9DenmarkUS$ 47.1 mn 0.8%
  10. 10RomaniaUS$ 46.6 mn 0.8%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 786 mn 22.9%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 211 mn 6.1%
  3. 3FranceUS$ 185 mn 5.4%
  4. 4United KingdomUS$ 129 mn 3.7%
  5. 5JapanUS$ 115 mn 3.4%
  6. 6Dem. Rep. of the CongoUS$ 103 mn 3%
  7. 7SpainUS$ 87.6 mn 2.5%
  8. 8ItalyUS$ 79.5 mn 2.3%
  9. 9IndiaUS$ 76.5 mn 2.2%
  10. 10PolandUS$ 68.7 mn 2%

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$ 844 mnIndia 20.1% · gap US$ 675 mn
GermanyUS$ 191 mnIndia 13.2% · gap US$ 166 mn
FranceUS$ 171 mnIndia 16.2% · gap US$ 144 mn
United KingdomUS$ 129 mnIndia 13.7% · gap US$ 111 mn
JapanUS$ 99.6 mnIndia 7.1% · gap US$ 92.6 mn
ItalyUS$ 74.4 mnIndia 9.1% · gap US$ 67.7 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 65.4 mnIndia 11% · gap US$ 58.2 mn
CanadaUS$ 63.3 mnIndia 16.3% · gap US$ 53 mn
SpainUS$ 64.1 mnIndia 21.2% · gap US$ 50.5 mn
South AfricaUS$ 47.2 mnIndia 11.4% · gap US$ 41.8 mn

Trade data cannot separate handloom from mill-made furnishings. 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 handloom products

India has the world's largest handloom sector, and hand-woven cotton, silk and wool fabrics are a part of its exports that few countries can match at scale. Competition comes from power-loom copies at home and abroad, and from hand-woven goods from Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia and Vietnam. Demand comes from designers, slow-fashion labels and interior shops that value hand-made, natural-fibre products with a story. Openings are in small-batch orders for boutiques and designers, GI-tagged weaves, and handloom home furnishings sold as sustainable products.

  1. 01Work with a weaver group

    Tie up with a cooperative, producer company or master weaver who can repeat a design.

  2. 02Make a swatch book

    Prepare swatches with fibre, width, GSM and price per metre; photograph the weaving process for buyers.

  3. 03Agree tolerance for hand-made variation

    Write down acceptable slubs, colour variation and width tolerance.

  4. 04Advance for yarn

    Ask the buyer for an advance to buy yarn and pay weavers on time — weavers cannot wait months for payment.

  5. 05Weave, wash and test

    Weave, pre-wash if agreed, and test colour fastness — especially for natural dyes.

  6. 06Pack, document and ship

    Pack rolls, prepare invoice and packing list, and file the shipping bill under the right handloom line.

  7. 07Collect balance

    Collect the balance against documents; for repeat buyers, consider ECGC cover before giving credit.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting handloom products

How do I prove the fabric is hand-woven?
Register for the Handloom Mark or India Handloom Brand, keep weaver records and photos, and buy from registered weavers or cooperatives.
What minimum order should I accept?
Set a minimum per colour that covers one warp on the loom; small boutique orders are fine if priced to cover set-up.
Natural dyes faded in the buyer's test. What now?
Test before bulk, use proper mordants, and tell buyers the fastness grade you can achieve. Some buyers accept lower light fastness for naturally dyed goods if told in advance.
Is there a council for handloom exporters?
Yes, HEPC (Handloom Export Promotion Council) issues the RCMC and takes members to fairs.
Can I use a GI name like 'Banarasi' on my label?
Only goods made in the registered area by registered producers can use it. Register as an authorised user with the GI Registry first.
Sources (7)
  1. HEPC (Handloom Export Promotion Council) — official site
  2. India Handloom Brand — Ministry of Textiles
  3. Silk Mark Organisation of India
  4. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
  5. OEKO-TEX — STANDARD 100
  6. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories
  7. EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and labelling

Who buys Indian handloom products

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