Imports & ExportsStart exporting

Textiles & apparel

Export synthetic and viscose fabrics

Polyester, nylon, poly-viscose and viscose fabrics from Surat and Bhilwara — sarees, suiting, dress material and technical cloth.

Free to exportHS 5407
HS code
5407
Woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn (5407), of synthetic staple fibres (5512–5515) and of artificial (viscose) staple fibres (5516).
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$ 1.48 bn
to 158 countries

What is exported

Surat is India’s centre for polyester and viscose woven fabrics — printed and dyed dress material, sarees and dupattas — while Bhilwara and Punjab make poly-viscose suiting. These fabrics sell to the Gulf, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Africa and the diaspora, and to garment makers in South Asia.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Polyester filament fabrics (5407)Georgette, chiffon, crepe, satin and printed dress material.
  • Poly-viscose suiting (5515)Bhilwara and Punjab suiting and uniform fabric.
  • Viscose rayon fabrics (5516)Printed and dyed rayon for dresses and kurtas.
  • Nylon and technical fabricsUmbrella, tent, parachute and filter fabrics.

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratSurat — weaving, processing and the textile market.
  • RajasthanBhilwara and Pali — suiting and processing.
  • Maharashtra and PunjabBhiwandi and Mumbai; Ludhiana and Amritsar.

Export packing

  • Fabric rolled on tubes, wrapped in polythene and HDPE or hessian, with a roll ticket (lot, shade, length, weight); bales or pallets as the buyer specifies.
  • Sarees and dupattas folded and packed in printed boxes or bundles inside cartons.

Who buys abroad

  • Textile wholesalers in Dubai, Sharjah and Riyadh
  • Garment makers in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
  • Diaspora retailers and African traders

The quality buyers ask for

Weight and width
GSM and width as ordered (e.g. 44 or 58 inches)
Fibre blend
Declared percentages, e.g. 65/35 poly-viscose
Print and finish
Print registration, hand feel and finish approved against the sample
Colour fastness
Washing, rubbing, light and perspiration, usually grade 3–4 or better (ISO 105 / AATCC methods)
Restricted substances
No banned azo dyes; formaldehyde, pH and heavy metals within REACH and buyer limits

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).
  • OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100Often askedTests the finished textile for harmful substances; widely asked for by retailers.
  • GRSOften askedGlobal Recycled Standard, for recycled-fibre claims.
  • Social audit (SA8000, BSCI/amfori, SMETA, WRAP)Often askedLabour and workplace audit required by most Western retailers before they place orders.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Rolls or bundles in 20-ft or 40-ft containers; mixed designs are common in one container.

How it travels

Sea from Hazira, Nhava Sheva and Mundra; air for samples and urgent lots.

Storage

Dry storage, away from light that can fade prints.

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”.
  • USA: fibre content by percentage, country of origin and the manufacturer’s name or RN number on a permanent label (FTC Textile Act rules); care label for consumer goods.
  • EU: fibre names and percentages under Regulation (EU) 1007/2011, in the language of the selling country; care symbols are commonly expected.
Where to get it tested

Test at the textile research associations — SITRA (Coimbatore), NITRA (Ghaziabad), BTRA (Mumbai), ATIRA (Ahmedabad) — at Textiles Committee laboratories, or at any NABL-accredited textile lab (search the NABL directory for “textiles” and your city). Retail buyers often name a global test house with labs in India.

Benefits of exporting this product

  • RoDTEP: 2.3% of FOB

    Tariff item 5407 61 10 to 5407 69 00 (woven fabrics of polyester filament (shirting, suiting and other)) earns 2.3% of FOB value, capped at ₹2 per square metre, as a duty credit scrip on ICEGATE (Appendix 4R). Rates continue to 31 Dec 2026 (DGFT Notification 41/2026-27). Confirm your exact 8-digit line on DGFT before pricing an order.

    DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification 32/2024-25) ↗
  • RoDTEP: 2.4% of FOB

    Tariff item 5516 11 10 to 5516 24 00 (woven fabrics of viscose staple fibres, 85% or more and blends mainly with man-made filaments) earns 2.4% of FOB value, capped at ₹4.5 per square metre, as a duty credit scrip on ICEGATE (Appendix 4R). Fabrics of 5512 earn 2.2%, capped at ₹7.3 per square metre; most 5513 lines earn 2.3%, capped at ₹2. Rates continue to 31 Dec 2026 (DGFT Notification 41/2026-27). Confirm your exact 8-digit line on DGFT before pricing an order.

    DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification 32/2024-25) ↗

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

  • Buyer test reports for fibre content, GSM, colour fastness, shrinkage and restricted chemicals (azo dyes, formaldehyde); EU buyers apply REACH limits.
  • Width, GSM, print registration and four-point inspection; flame-retardancy tests for curtain and upholstery fabric.
How to start small

Start with Surat dress material or poly-viscose suiting to a Gulf wholesaler who already buys Indian textiles. Ship mixed designs in one container and insist on advance payment or LC. 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

  • Copying a design or print that a buyer or brand owns.
  • Shipping on open credit to traders you have not checked; use ECGC cover or LC.

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. European Chemicals Agency — Understanding REACH

Trade data

Indian synthetic and viscose fabrics exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 1.48 bn
+6% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +5.5%
US$ 1.41 bn → US$ 1.48 bn
Buyer countries
158
Average export price
US$ 0.63
per kg · 2.35 mn tonnes shipped · US$ 0.63 the year before
United Arab Emirates: US$ 229 mnBangladesh: US$ 187 mnUnited States of America: US$ 103 mnSri Lanka: US$ 74.6 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 47 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 39.1 mnEgypt: US$ 38 mnVietnam: US$ 34.8 mnItaly: US$ 33.9 mnIndonesia: US$ 33 mnNepal: US$ 32.4 mnKenya: US$ 28.2 mnBelgium: US$ 27.6 mnSenegal: US$ 27.2 mnKuwait: US$ 24.8 mnNigeria: US$ 21.9 mnIraq: US$ 21.2 mnMexico: US$ 21 mnMalaysia: US$ 18.8 mnGermany: US$ 18.8 mnSouth Africa: US$ 18.1 mnMorocco: US$ 17 mnSouth Korea: US$ 16.8 mnSudan: US$ 16.6 mnTogo: US$ 16.4 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 229 mnUnited Arab EmiratesBangladesh: US$ 187 mnBangladeshUnited States of America: US$ 103 mnUnited States of AmericaSri Lanka: US$ 74.6 mnSri LankaSaudi Arabia: US$ 47 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 39.1 mnUnited KingdomEgypt: US$ 38 mnEgyptVietnam: US$ 34.8 mnItaly: US$ 33.9 mnIndonesia: US$ 33 mnNepal: US$ 32.4 mnKenya: US$ 28.2 mnBelgium: US$ 27.6 mnSenegal: US$ 27.2 mnKuwait: US$ 24.8 mnNigeria: US$ 21.9 mnIraq: US$ 21.2 mnMexico: US$ 21 mnMalaysia: US$ 18.8 mnGermany: US$ 18.8 mnSouth Africa: US$ 18.1 mnMorocco: US$ 17 mnSouth Korea: US$ 16.8 mnSudan: US$ 16.6 mnTogo: US$ 16.4 mnIndia
Where Indian synthetic and viscose fabrics goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 1.11 bn1.1k2020-212021-22: US$ 1.46 bn1.5k2021-222022-23: US$ 1.57 bn1.6k2022-232023-24: US$ 1.5 bn1.5k2023-242024-25: US$ 1.41 bn1.4k2024-252025-26: US$ 1.48 bn1.5k2025-26
India’s synthetic and viscose fabrics 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 2021-22 — a 67% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 0.83 per kg0.832021-22: US$ 0.50 per kg0.502022-23: US$ 0.76 per kg2024-25: US$ 0.63 per kg2025-26: US$ 0.63 per kg0.632020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian synthetic and viscose fabrics · 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$ 1.11 bn2020-212021-22: US$ 1.46 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 1.57 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 1.5 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 1.41 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 1.48 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 1.61 bn (US$ 1.38 bn – US$ 1.88 bn)1.6k2026-272027-28: US$ 1.67 bn (US$ 1.4 bn – US$ 1.99 bn)1.7k2027-28
India’s synthetic and viscose fabrics exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 1.67 bn

Likely range US$ 1.4 bn to US$ 1.99 bn.

Trend
+3.8% a year
Fit (R²)
0.32 — 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 Arab EmiratesUS$ 229 mn+12.6%
2BangladeshUS$ 187 mn+10%
3United States of AmericaUS$ 103 mn-20.4%
4Sri LankaUS$ 74.6 mn+0.2%
5Saudi ArabiaUS$ 47 mn-0.2%
6United KingdomUS$ 39.1 mn+11.3%
7EgyptUS$ 38 mn+14%
8VietnamUS$ 34.8 mn+20%
9ItalyUS$ 33.9 mn-2.6%
10IndonesiaUS$ 33 mn-2.8%
11NepalUS$ 32.4 mn-0.8%
12KenyaUS$ 28.2 mn+18%

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. SenegalUS$ 11.2 mn → US$ 27.2 mn+142.5%
  2. GermanyUS$ 14 mn → US$ 18.8 mn+34.3%
  3. South KoreaUS$ 12.5 mn → US$ 16.8 mn+34.2%
  4. NigeriaUS$ 17 mn → US$ 21.9 mn+29%
  5. TogoUS$ 13.4 mn → US$ 16.4 mn+21.9%
  6. VietnamUS$ 29 mn → US$ 34.8 mn+20%
  7. KenyaUS$ 23.9 mn → US$ 28.2 mn+18%
  8. MoroccoUS$ 14.9 mn → US$ 17 mn+14.4%

Low demand

  1. AfghanistanUS$ 25.5 mn → US$ 15.3 mn-39.9%
  2. United States of AmericaUS$ 129 mn → US$ 103 mn-20.4%
  3. MexicoUS$ 25.9 mn → US$ 21 mn-18.9%

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
Fbrc of polstr,mxd with viscos ryon,dyed5515 11 30 · Fabrics, woven, of polyester staple fibres in chapter 55, mixed mainly or solely with viscose rayon staple…US$ 286 mn-0.8%254 mn m²US$ 1.12 per m²was US$ 1.14
Others-of-wovn fabrcs,printed,containing by weight>=85%textured polyester filaments5407 54 90 · Fabrics, woven, containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, printedUS$ 165 mn+33.3%295 mn m²US$ 0.56 per m²was US$ 0.53
Other wven fbrcs from strip/the like5407 20 90 · Fabrics, woven, from strip or the like, of synthetic textile materialsUS$ 123 mn-3.2%624 mn m²US$ 0.20 per m²was US$ 0.21
Others-of-woven fabrics,dyed,containing by weight>=85% textured polyester filaments5407 52 90 · Fabrics, woven, containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, dyedUS$ 118 mn+11.4%206 mn m²US$ 0.57 per m²was US$ 0.58
Other synthtic woven fabrics,dyed5407 92 00 · Fabrics, woven, of synthetic filament yarn, dyed in heading 5407US$ 51 mn+20.2%80.3 mn m²US$ 0.63 per m²was US$ 0.67
Woven fabrics,containing 85% or more by weight of other synthetic filaments, dyed5407 72 00 · Fabrics, woven, containing 85% or more by weight of synthetic filaments, dyedUS$ 44.2 mn+3.3%63.0 mn m²US$ 0.70 per m²was US$ 0.65
Fabrics, woven, containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, dyed — polyester sarees5407 52 40US$ 41.9 mn+7.2%52.1 mn m²US$ 0.80 per m²was US$ 0.82
Fbrc of polstr,mxd with wool/fine animal hair, dyed5515 13 30 · Fabrics, woven, of polyester staple fibres in chapter 55, mixed mainly or solely with wool or fine animal hairUS$ 41.8 mn+19.3%10.7 mn m²US$ 3.92 per m²was US$ 3.87
Other dyed polyester fabrcs5407 10 39 · Fabrics, woven, from high tenacity yarn, of nylon, other polyamides or of polyestersUS$ 40.4 mn+6.7%76.0 mn m²US$ 0.53 per m²was US$ 0.52
Fabrics, woven, containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, dyed — polyester shirtings5407 52 10US$ 34.6 mn-16.2%64.3 mn m²US$ 0.54 per m²was US$ 0.57
Unblechd other polyester fabrics5407 10 19 · Fabrics, woven, from high tenacity yarn, of nylon, other polyamides or of polyestersUS$ 25.3 mn+35.4%49.5 mn m²US$ 0.51 per m²was US$ 0.55
Fbrc of polstr,mxd with viscos ryon,othrs5515 11 90 · Fabrics, woven, of polyester staple fibres in chapter 55, mixed mainly or solely with viscose rayon staple…US$ 25.1 mn+43.3%23.4 mn m²US$ 1.07 per m²was US$ 1.06
Wovn fbrcs of other synthtc stpl fbrs,dyed5513 29 00 · Fabrics, woven, dyed, containing less than 85% by weight of synthetic staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely…US$ 23.8 mn+15.5%27.6 mn m²US$ 0.86 per m²was US$ 0.83
Woven fabrics containing 85% or more by weight of other synthetic filaments, printed5407 74 00 · Fabrics, woven, containing 85% or more by weight of synthetic filaments, printedUS$ 21.8 mn+4.2%31.5 mn m²US$ 0.69 per m²was US$ 0.59

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$ 30.9 bn
2023
India among exporters
#2
of 147 countries
India’s share of world exports
3.4%
US$ 1.55 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 44.3 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 27.5 bn 59.9%
  2. 2IndiaUS$ 1.55 bn 3.4%
  3. 3Rep. of KoreaUS$ 1.49 bn 3.2%
  4. 4Other Asia, nesUS$ 1.42 bn 3.1%
  5. 5TürkiyeUS$ 1.34 bn 2.9%
  6. 6ItalyUS$ 1.31 bn 2.9%
  7. 7JapanUS$ 1.16 bn 2.5%
  8. 8GermanyUS$ 939 mn 2%
  9. 9SpainUS$ 900 mn 2%
  10. 10USAUS$ 887 mn 1.9%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1Viet NamUS$ 3.92 bn 12.7%
  2. 2IndonesiaUS$ 1.48 bn 4.8%
  3. 3United Arab EmiratesUS$ 1.19 bn 3.9%
  4. 4MoroccoUS$ 1.18 bn 3.8%
  5. 5MyanmarUS$ 1.09 bn 3.5%
  6. 6USAUS$ 1.04 bn 3.4%
  7. 7ChinaUS$ 1.03 bn 3.3%
  8. 8CambodiaUS$ 984 mn 3.2%
  9. 9MexicoUS$ 912 mn 3%
  10. 10BrazilUS$ 843 mn 2.7%

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.

VietnamUS$ 4.39 bnIndia 0.8% · gap US$ 4.36 bn
IndonesiaUS$ 1.59 bnIndia 1.1% · gap US$ 1.57 bn
ChinaUS$ 997 mnIndia 0.8% · gap US$ 990 mn
United Arab EmiratesUS$ 1.19 bnIndia 17.5% · gap US$ 984 mn
United States of AmericaUS$ 1 bnIndia 24.7% · gap US$ 754 mn
GermanyUS$ 765 mnIndia 1.9% · gap US$ 750 mn
ItalyUS$ 782 mnIndia 4.4% · gap US$ 748 mn
SpainUS$ 678 mnIndia 2.4% · gap US$ 662 mn
EgyptUS$ 693 mnIndia 4.6% · gap US$ 661 mn
Saudi ArabiaUS$ 670 mnIndia 6.2% · gap US$ 629 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 synthetic and viscose fabrics

China is by far the largest exporter of synthetic fabrics; India is a significant supplier with strength in printed polyester and viscose dress material, sarees and poly-viscose suiting. Demand is strong in the Gulf, Africa, South Asia and among the diaspora, where Indian designs are known. Openings lie in sustainable viscose (certified fibre), recycled polyester and technical fabrics.

  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. 02Approve strike-offs

    Get buyer approval of print strike-offs and lab dips before bulk production.

  3. 03Weave and process

    Weave, dye or print and finish; check shade continuity across rolls.

  4. 04Inspect

    Inspect each roll and pack by design and colour.

  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 synthetic and viscose fabrics

Which council issues the RCMC?
SRTEPC, for synthetic and viscose fabrics.
Can I mix designs in one container?
Yes, Gulf and African wholesalers often buy mixed designs; list each design and quantity on the packing list.
What are the main payment risks?
Open-credit sales to unknown traders; use LC, advance or ECGC cover.
Do I need fibre labels on fabric?
Retail-ready fabric and made-ups need fibre labels in the US and EU; roll goods need correct fibre declaration on documents.
What RoDTEP applies?
Polyester filament fabrics (5407 61/69) earn 2.3% capped at ₹2 per square metre; viscose fabrics (5516 11–24) 2.4% capped at ₹4.5.
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. US FTC — Labeling requirements under the Textile and Wool Acts
  4. European Commission — Textile labelling (Regulation (EU) 1007/2011)

Who buys Indian synthetic and viscose fabrics

All countries →

More in textiles & apparel

All products →