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Export nonwovens and technical textiles

Spunbond, spunlace and needle-punched nonwovens for hygiene, medical, agro and geotextile uses.

Free to exportHS 5603
HS code
5603
Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated or laminated (5603): spunbond, meltblown, spunlace and needle-punched fabrics, graded by weight per square metre.
Export policy
Free to export
Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 2; no licence is needed. Confirm the 8-digit line on the DGFT ITC(HS) search before you ship.
Registrations
3
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 196 mn
to 102 countries

What is exported

Nonwoven fabric is made by bonding fibres without weaving or knitting. Indian plants in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and the north make spunbond polypropylene for bags, masks and crop covers, spunlace for wipes, and needle-punched felts for geotextiles and automotive use. Exports go to the Gulf, Africa, Europe and the USA. Technical textiles are a focus area for the Ministry of Textiles.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Spunbond polypropyleneFor carry bags, crop covers, furniture and disposable medical items.
  • SpunlaceFor wet wipes, cosmetic pads and medical dressings.
  • Meltblown and SMSFiltration media, masks and surgical gowns.
  • Needle-punched felts and geotextilesFor roads, drainage, automotive and carpets.

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratAhmedabad, Vadodara and Surat — spunbond and spunlace lines.
  • MaharashtraPune, Mumbai and Nashik.
  • Tamil Nadu and KarnatakaCoimbatore and Bengaluru.
  • Delhi NCR and PunjabNeedle-punch and automotive felts.

Export packing

  • Rolls on paper cores, stretch-wrapped and palletised; slit rolls or cut sheets packed in cartons.
  • Wooden pallets must be ISPM-15 heat-treated and stamped.

Who buys abroad

  • Bag makers and converters in the Gulf and Africa
  • Hygiene, wipes and medical-disposable manufacturers
  • Infrastructure contractors (geotextiles)

The quality buyers ask for

Weight
GSM band as per tariff split: up to 25, 25–70, 70–150, over 150 g/m²
Strength
Tensile strength and elongation in machine and cross directions
Function
UV stabilisation (crop covers), absorbency (wipes), filtration efficiency (meltblown)
Standards
IS 16366 (crop covers), IS 17355 (mulch mats) and other BIS/EN/ISO standards as applicable

Certificates

  • RCMCRequiredRegistration with the export promotion council or board for your product (not needed up to ₹3 lakh FOB per consignment since 15 Sep 2026).
  • ISO 9001Often askedQuality management system; often asked for by industrial buyers.
  • OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100Often askedTests the finished textile for harmful substances; widely asked for by retailers.
  • ISO 13485 / CE (medical)Often askedNeeded for nonwovens sold as medical devices or into regulated medical supply chains.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Palletised rolls in 40-ft or 40-ft high-cube containers; light fabric fills space before weight.

How it travels

Sea from Mundra, Nhava Sheva and Chennai.

Storage

Dry, covered storage away from sunlight (UV degrades polypropylene that is not stabilised).

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Fabric and yarn: roll or carton ticket with quality, lot/shade or merge number, length or weight, and “Made in India”.
  • Every carton or bag: product, grade, lot or batch number, net and gross weight, exporter name and “Made in India” / “Product of India”, matching the invoice and packing list.
Where to get it tested

Test at Textiles Committee labs, textile research associations (SITRA, NITRA, BTRA, ATIRA, and the technical-textile centres of excellence they host) or NABL-accredited labs with nonwoven tests in scope (nabl-india.org).

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • SRTEPCRCMC from the Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council for polyester, nylon, viscose and other man-made fibre yarns, fabrics and made-ups.srtepc.org ↗

Quality and checks

  • GSM, tensile strength, elongation, air permeability and, for hygiene and medical use, absorbency and biocompatibility tests.
  • Product standards where they apply, such as the IS standards for crop covers and geotextiles named in the tariff, or EN standards for medical fabrics in the EU.
How to start small

Begin with spunbond rolls or crop covers to distributors in the Gulf or East Africa, where Indian suppliers are known. Ship a mixed container of GSMs and colours with test reports for each. Since 15 September 2026, a consignment worth up to ₹3 lakh FOB does not need an RCMC (DGFT Notification 36/2026-27). Registrations that a law requires for the product still apply.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Supplying medical-grade nonwovens without the certification the destination requires.
  • GSM below the declared figure — buyers weigh rolls and claim.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (4)
  1. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  2. SRTEPC — The Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council
  3. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification 32/2024-25)
  4. Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles — testing laboratories

Trade data

Indian nonwovens and technical textiles exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 196 mn
-1.6% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -14.6%
US$ 229 mn → US$ 196 mn
Buyer countries
102
Average export price
US$ 2.13
per kg · 91,859 tonnes shipped · US$ 2.24 the year before
United States of America: US$ 78.1 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 15.6 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 14.3 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 10.4 mnGermany: US$ 8.3 mnCanada: US$ 5.9 mnNepal: US$ 4.7 mnSouth Africa: US$ 4.6 mnOman: US$ 3.6 mnSpain: US$ 3.4 mnBangladesh: US$ 3.2 mnColombia: US$ 2.8 mnFrance: US$ 2.7 mnThailand: US$ 2.3 mnGreece: US$ 2.3 mnIndonesia: US$ 2.3 mnSri Lanka: US$ 2 mnNew Zealand: US$ 2 mnMaldives: US$ 1.7 mnVietnam: US$ 1.7 mnMexico: US$ 1.6 mnBrazil: US$ 1.3 mnIsrael: US$ 1.3 mnQatar: US$ 1.2 mnUnited States of America: US$ 78.1 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Kingdom: US$ 15.6 mnUnited KingdomUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 14.3 mnUnited Arab EmiratesSaudi Arabia: US$ 10.4 mnGermany: US$ 8.3 mnCanada: US$ 5.9 mnNepal: US$ 4.7 mnNepalSouth Africa: US$ 4.6 mnSouth AfricaOman: US$ 3.6 mnSpain: US$ 3.4 mnSpainBangladesh: US$ 3.2 mnColombia: US$ 2.8 mnFrance: US$ 2.7 mnThailand: US$ 2.3 mnGreece: US$ 2.3 mnIndonesia: US$ 2.3 mnSri Lanka: US$ 2 mnNew Zealand: US$ 2 mnMaldives: US$ 1.7 mnVietnam: US$ 1.7 mnMexico: US$ 1.6 mnBrazil: US$ 1.3 mnIsrael: US$ 1.3 mnQatar: US$ 1.2 mnIndia
Where Indian nonwovens and technical textiles goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 212 mn2122020-212021-22: US$ 206 mn2062021-222022-23: US$ 146 mn1462022-232023-24: US$ 191 mn1912023-242024-25: US$ 229 mn2292024-252025-26: US$ 196 mn1962025-26
India’s nonwovens and technical textiles exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2021-22, lowest in 2025-26 — a 18% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 2.43 per kg2021-22: US$ 2.52 per kg2.522022-23: US$ 2.46 per kg2024-25: US$ 2.24 per kg2025-26: US$ 2.13 per kg2.132020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian nonwovens and technical textiles · 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$ 212 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 206 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 146 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 191 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 229 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 196 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 199 mn (US$ 157 mn – US$ 251 mn)1992026-272027-28: US$ 200 mn (US$ 154 mn – US$ 259 mn)2002027-28
India’s nonwovens and technical textiles exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 200 mn

Likely range US$ 154 mn to US$ 259 mn.

Trend
+0.6% a year
Fit (R²)
0 — 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$ 78.1 mn-36.9%
2United KingdomUS$ 15.6 mn+8.3%
3United Arab EmiratesUS$ 14.3 mn+4.8%
4Saudi ArabiaUS$ 10.4 mn+38.7%
5GermanyUS$ 8.3 mn+65.3%
6CanadaUS$ 5.9 mn+8.7%
7NepalUS$ 4.7 mn+5.4%
8South AfricaUS$ 4.6 mn+15.9%
9OmanUS$ 3.6 mn+167.2%
10SpainUS$ 3.4 mn+7.5%
11BangladeshUS$ 3.2 mn+14.9%
12ColombiaUS$ 2.8 mn+240.7%

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. ColombiaUS$ 810k → US$ 2.8 mn+240.7%
  2. OmanUS$ 1.3 mn → US$ 3.6 mn+167.2%
  3. GermanyUS$ 5 mn → US$ 8.3 mn+65.3%
  4. Sri LankaUS$ 1.2 mn → US$ 2 mn+63.7%
  5. FranceUS$ 1.7 mn → US$ 2.7 mn+55.9%
  6. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 7.5 mn → US$ 10.4 mn+38.7%
  7. GreeceUS$ 1.8 mn → US$ 2.3 mn+28.5%
  8. ThailandUS$ 1.9 mn → US$ 2.3 mn+21.2%

Low demand

  1. CzechiaUS$ 2.7 mn → US$ 90k-96.7%
  2. IsraelUS$ 4.5 mn → US$ 1.3 mn-71.4%
  3. United States of AmericaUS$ 124 mn → US$ 78.1 mn-36.9%
  4. New ZealandUS$ 3.1 mn → US$ 2 mn-34.3%

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
Man-made filmnt wghng>25g /sqm5603 12 00 · Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, of man-made filaments,US$ 71.9 mn-22.8%35,044 tonnesUS$ 2.05 per kgwas US$ 2.14
Man-made filmnt wghng >150g/sqm5603 14 00 · Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, of man-made filaments,US$ 28.8 mn-11.5%9,830 tonnesUS$ 2.93 per kgwas US$ 2.95
Man-made filmnt wghng<25g/sqm-others5603 11 90 · Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, of man-made filaments,US$ 27.5 mn-8%14,566 tonnesUS$ 1.89 per kgwas US$ 1.90
Man-made filmnt wghng betwn 70g/sqm and 150g/sqm5603 13 00 · Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, of man-made filaments,US$ 26.4 mn-33%13,505 tonnesUS$ 1.96 per kgwas US$ 2.31
Other filmnt wghng >150g/sqm-other5603 94 90 · Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, not of man-made filaments,US$ 11.1 mn+24.6%3,641 tonnesUS$ 3.06 per kgwas US$ 3.36
Other filmnt wghng betwn 25g/sqm and 70g/sqm5603 92 00 · Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, not of man-made filaments,US$ 10.6 mn+77.1%5,530 tonnesUS$ 1.91 per kgwas US$ 2.26
Other filmnt wghng <25g/sqm5603 91 00 · Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, not of man-made filaments,US$ 9.3 mn-2.6%4,381 tonnesUS$ 2.12 per kgwas US$ 2.11
Other filmnt wghng betwn 70g/sqm and 150g/sqm - others5603 93 90 · Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, not of man-made filaments,US$ 4.6 mn-14.6%2,148 tonnesUS$ 2.15 per kgwas US$ 1.96
Other filmnt wghng >150g/sqm-non-woven geotextile and articles5603 94 10 · Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, not of man-made filaments,US$ 3.5 mn+40.2%1,992 tonnesUS$ 1.75 per kgwas US$ 1.80
Other filmnt wghng betwn 70g/sqm and 150g/sqm - mulch mats, conforming to is 173555603 93 10 · Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, not of man-made filaments,US$ 1.1 mn-5.4%634 tonnesUS$ 1.66 per kgwas US$ 1.70
Man-made filmnt wghng<25g/sqm-crop covers, confirming to is 167185603 11 10 · Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, of man-made filaments,US$ 930k+55%589 tonnesUS$ 1.58 per kgwas US$ 1.72

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$ 16.1 bn
2023
India among exporters
#21
of 124 countries
India’s share of world exports
1%
US$ 175 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 17 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 3.8 bn 22.1%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 2.03 bn 11.8%
  3. 3USAUS$ 1.94 bn 11.3%
  4. 4ItalyUS$ 1.28 bn 7.5%
  5. 5JapanUS$ 869 mn 5.1%
  6. 6TürkiyeUS$ 666 mn 3.9%
  7. 7FranceUS$ 508 mn 3%
  8. 8NetherlandsUS$ 450 mn 2.6%
  9. 9LuxembourgUS$ 420 mn 2.4%
  10. 10CzechiaUS$ 404 mn 2.3%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 1.82 bn 11.3%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 1.25 bn 7.8%
  3. 3ChinaUS$ 820 mn 5.1%
  4. 4JapanUS$ 752 mn 4.7%
  5. 5Viet NamUS$ 620 mn 3.9%
  6. 6ItalyUS$ 608 mn 3.8%
  7. 7United KingdomUS$ 568 mn 3.5%
  8. 8CanadaUS$ 557 mn 3.5%
  9. 9PolandUS$ 555 mn 3.5%
  10. 10FranceUS$ 539 mn 3.4%

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$ 2.07 bnIndia 9.3% · gap US$ 1.88 bn
GermanyUS$ 1.22 bnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 1.22 bn
ChinaUS$ 816 mnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 815 mn
JapanUS$ 712 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 712 mn
VietnamUS$ 641 mnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 639 mn
ItalyUS$ 640 mnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 639 mn
United KingdomUS$ 568 mnIndia 1.1% · gap US$ 562 mn
CanadaUS$ 561 mnIndia 1.3% · gap US$ 554 mn
FranceUS$ 528 mnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 526 mn
South KoreaUS$ 427 mnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 426 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 nonwovens and technical textiles

China, the EU and the USA lead world nonwovens production and trade; India is a fast-growing producer, supported by government focus on technical textiles. Demand is driven by hygiene products, wipes, medical disposables, agriculture, construction and automotive uses. Indian suppliers win on price for spunbond and crop covers in nearby markets. Openings lie in certified medical and hygiene grades and in geotextiles for infrastructure.

  1. 01Send samples and agree the spec

    Send swatches or cones with test reports; fix construction, GSM or count, shade, tolerances, packing and the testing lab in the purchase order.

  2. 02Confirm standards

    Agree the standard (BIS, EN, ISO or buyer) and any certification for medical or hygiene use.

  3. 03Produce and slit

    Run the line at the agreed GSM and slit rolls to width.

  4. 04Test each lot

    Test GSM, strength and functional properties; issue test reports.

  5. 05Book, stuff and file the shipping bill

    Book the container, stuff it at the factory or a CFS, file the shipping bill on ICEGATE with the correct 8-digit code and the RoDTEP/RoSCTL declaration, and get the bill of lading.

  6. 06Get paid and close the file

    Send the original documents through your bank (or to the buyer if paid in advance). Once the money arrives, get the e-BRC and claim RoDTEP, RoSCTL or drawback where they apply.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting nonwovens and technical textiles

Which council issues the RCMC?
SRTEPC for man-made fibre nonwovens; check Appendix 2T if your fibre is different.
Do medical nonwovens need extra approval?
Often yes — finished medical items may need ISO 13485, CE marking in the EU or FDA clearance in the USA.
How is nonwoven priced?
Usually per kilogram, linked to polypropylene or polyester prices.
Why are crop covers UV-stabilised?
Without UV stabiliser, polypropylene breaks down in sunlight within weeks.
What RoDTEP applies?
All 5603 lines earn 1.4% of FOB with no rupee cap.
Sources (4)
  1. SRTEPC — The Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council
  2. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification 32/2024-25)
  3. Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles — testing laboratories
  4. NABL — laboratory search

Who buys Indian nonwovens and technical textiles

All countries →

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