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Textiles & apparel

Export readymade garments

Knitted and woven clothing for brands and retailers; the USA, UK, UAE and the EU are the big buyers.

Free to exportHS 6109.10
HS code
6109.10
T-shirts and vests of cotton, knitted (HS 6109.10). All knitted garments sit in Chapter 61 and woven garments in Chapter 62.
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2. Garments are covered by RoSCTL, not RoDTEP; check the current RoSCTL rate schedule for your exact line.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 15.8 bn
to 202 countries

What is exported

India makes knitwear (Tiruppur, Ludhiana), woven shirts and dresses (Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, Jaipur) and ethnic wear. Buyers are brands, retailers and importers who send a tech pack and expect samples, fit approval and a fixed delivery window. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 7.6 billion of knitted garments (Chapter 61) and US$ 8.2 billion of woven garments (Chapter 62); the USA was the largest buyer of both, followed by the UK, UAE, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Knitted cotton T-shirts, polos and vests (HS 6109, 6105)India's largest garment line; Tiruppur specialises in it.
  • Woven shirts and blouses (HS 6205, 6206)Cotton and linen shirting for menswear brands and women's tops.
  • Trousers, jeans and shorts (HS 6203, 6204)Denim and cotton bottoms; buyers test shrinkage and colour fastness.
  • Women's dresses and ethnic wear (HS 6204, 6211)Printed and embroidered dresses, kurtas and kaftans — Jaipur and Delhi NCR are strong here.
  • Babywear and nightwearSoft cotton knits; strict chemical and safety tests (no loose buttons or cords for children).

Where it is grown or made

  • Tamil NaduTiruppur (knitwear), Chennai, Coimbatore
  • Delhi NCR (Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi)Gurugram, Noida, Okhla — women's wear and fashion garments
  • KarnatakaBengaluru — large woven and knit factories for global brands
  • PunjabLudhiana — woollen knitwear and hosiery
  • RajasthanJaipur — hand-block and screen-printed garments
  • MaharashtraMumbai and Tarapur

Export packing

  • Each piece is folded, tagged and put in its own polybag (with a suffocation warning where the buyer asks), then packed by size ratio in 5- or 7-ply export cartons.
  • Care, fibre-content and country-of-origin labels must follow the buyer country's rules; cartons carry PO number, style, colour, size break-up and carton number.
  • Big retailers often want hanging garments (GOH) or floor-ready packs with their own barcode tickets.

Who buys abroad

  • Fashion brands and their buying offices in India
  • Department stores and supermarket chains (private labels)
  • Importers and wholesalers who supply smaller shops
  • Online sellers and boutique labels ordering small runs

The quality buyers ask for

Fabric weight
GSM (grams per square metre), tested by ISO 3801 or ASTM D3776, with a tolerance such as ±5% agreed with the buyer
Shrinkage
Dimensional change after washing (ISO 6330 / ISO 5077); buyers commonly set a limit of a few per cent in their manual
Colour fastness
To washing (ISO 105-C06), rubbing (ISO 105-X12), perspiration (ISO 105-E04) and light (ISO 105-B02), graded on a 1–5 grey scale
Chemicals
pH (ISO 3071), formaldehyde (ISO 14184-1), banned azo dyes (EU REACH limit 30 mg/kg for listed amines), and the buyer's restricted substances list
Children's wear safety
No cords or drawstrings in the hood and neck area (EN 14682); button and snap pull tests; US small-parts and lead limits for children's products
Flammability (USA)
Clothing textiles must meet 16 CFR Part 1610; children's sleepwear has stricter rules
Inspection level
Final random inspection by AQL sampling (ISO 2859-1); AQL 2.5 for major defects is a common buyer setting

Certificates

  • Social compliance audit (amfori BSCI, SMETA/Sedex, WRAP or SA8000)RequiredChecks wages, hours, safety and child labour at the factory. Nearly every brand and retailer asks for one before the first order.
  • OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100Often askedProduct test for harmful substances; widely asked for babywear and basics.
  • GOTSOften askedFor garments sold as organic; covers the whole chain from fibre to garment, with transaction certificates.
  • GRS / RCSOften askedGlobal Recycled Standard or Recycled Claim Standard for garments with recycled polyester or cotton.
  • Higg FEM / ZDHCOften askedEnvironmental self-assessment and chemical-management programmes many brands now require from their factories and wet processors.
  • ISO 9001Often askedQuality management for the factory; helpful with larger buyers.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Folded garments go in 5- or 7-ply cartons, typically 40–60 cartons per 10 cubic metres depending on size. A 40-ft container has about 67 cubic metres; hanging garments (GOH) use special containers with rails.

How it travels

Sea for regular orders (LCL for small lots); air for samples, late orders and fashion replenishment.

Storage

Store packed cartons dry and ventilated; damp cartons cause mould and odour claims. Use silica gel sachets if the buyer allows.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • EU: fibre content using the names in Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011, in the language of the country of sale.
  • USA: fibre content, country of origin and the maker's or RN number (Textile Act), plus a permanent care label (16 CFR Part 423).
  • Size label, care symbols (ISO 3758 in Europe), and the buyer's barcode and price tickets.
  • Cartons: PO number, style, colour, size break-up, quantity, carton number, gross and net weight, 'Made in India'.
Where to get it tested

Buyers usually name a lab. Many global test houses have NABL-accredited labs in Tiruppur, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru and Mumbai; search the NABL directory under 'textiles'. AEPC and the textile research associations (NITRA, BTRA, SITRA, ATIRA) also offer garment testing.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • AEPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council)RCMC for readymade garments. Needed for RoSCTL and other export benefits.aepcindia.com ↗
  • Indian Silk EPC / Wool & Woollens EPC (if the garment is silk or wool)Silk and wool garments come under their own councils as per DGFT Appendix 2T.content.dgft.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • USA: a permanent label with fibre content, country of origin ("Made in India") and the maker or importer identity, as required by the FTC Textile Act rules; plus care labels.
  • EU: fibre names and percentages under the EU textile labelling rules, and REACH limits on restricted chemicals such as certain azo dyes.
  • Buyer audits: most brands ask for a social-compliance audit of the factory and a third-party lab test (colour fastness, shrinkage, restricted substances) before the first order.
  • Cotton origin traceability for US-bound goods (Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act).
How to start small

Pick one product you can make well (for example cotton T-shirts or kurtas) and one market. Build a short catalogue with real photos and prices, get an AEPC RCMC, and visit an AEPC-backed fair or buyer-seller meet. Expect to send paid samples, then a small trial order with an advance payment; air-ship the first lot if the buyer needs it fast.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Missing the delivery window. Late shipments lead to discounts, air freight at your cost, or cancellation.
  • Shipping without the buyer's final inspection approval, then facing a claim for measurement or shade variation.
  • US duties on Indian goods have changed several times since 2025. Check the current US rate on the US tariff schedule before you agree a landed price.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (8)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 61 and 62 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. European Chemicals Agency — Understanding REACH
  6. US Customs and Border Protection — Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
  7. US International Trade Commission — Harmonized Tariff Schedule (current US duty rates)
  8. AEPC — official site

Trade data

Indian readymade garments exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 15.8 bn
+5.2% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -1.2%
US$ 16 bn → US$ 15.8 bn
Buyer countries
202
Average export price
US$ 4.01
per kg · 3.94 mn tonnes shipped · US$ 4.01 the year before
United States of America: US$ 4.83 bnUnited Kingdom: US$ 1.5 bnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 1.3 bnGermany: US$ 933 mnNetherlands: US$ 785 mnSpain: US$ 739 mnFrance: US$ 634 mnItaly: US$ 399 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 394 mnAustralia: US$ 343 mnJapan: US$ 252 mnCanada: US$ 236 mnMalaysia: US$ 133 mnSouth Africa: US$ 93.2 mnUnited States of America: US$ 4.83 bnUnited States of AmericaUnited Kingdom: US$ 1.5 bnUnited KingdomUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 1.3 bnUnited Arab EmiratesGermany: US$ 933 mnNetherlands: US$ 785 mnSpain: US$ 739 mnSpainFrance: US$ 634 mnItaly: US$ 399 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 394 mnAustralia: US$ 343 mnAustraliaJapan: US$ 252 mnJapanCanada: US$ 236 mnMalaysia: US$ 133 mnSouth Africa: US$ 93.2 mnIndia
Where Indian readymade garments goes — among our 30 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 12.3 bn12k2020-212021-22: US$ 16 bn16k2021-222022-23: US$ 16.2 bn16k2022-232023-24: US$ 14.5 bn15k2023-242024-25: US$ 16 bn16k2024-252025-26: US$ 15.8 bn16k2025-26
India’s readymade garments exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2022-23, lowest in 2020-21 — a 15% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 3.90 per kg3.902021-22: US$ 4.13 per kg2022-23: US$ 4.48 per kg4.482024-25: US$ 4.01 per kg2025-26: US$ 4.01 per kg4.012020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian readymade garments · 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$ 12.3 bn2020-212021-22: US$ 16 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 16.2 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 14.5 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 16 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 15.8 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 16.9 bn (US$ 14.8 bn – US$ 19.4 bn)17k2026-272027-28: US$ 17.5 bn (US$ 15 bn – US$ 20.3 bn)17k2027-28
India’s readymade garments exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 17.5 bn

Likely range US$ 15 bn to US$ 20.3 bn.

Trend
+3.3% a year
Fit (R²)
0.33 — 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$ 4.83 bn-9.5%
2United KingdomUS$ 1.5 bn+4.7%
3United Arab EmiratesUS$ 1.3 bn+6.4%
4GermanyUS$ 933 mn+9.3%
5NetherlandsUS$ 785 mn-2.5%
6SpainUS$ 739 mn+7.5%
7FranceUS$ 634 mn+4.8%
8ItalyUS$ 399 mn+11.5%
9Saudi ArabiaUS$ 394 mn+9.4%
10PolandUS$ 357 mn+7.2%
11AustraliaUS$ 343 mn-1.9%
12JapanUS$ 252 mn+23.3%

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. JapanUS$ 204 mn → US$ 252 mn+23.3%
  2. ItalyUS$ 357 mn → US$ 399 mn+11.5%

Low demand

  1. DenmarkUS$ 233 mn → US$ 183 mn-21.5%
  2. MexicoUS$ 190 mn → US$ 159 mn-16.4%

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
T-shirts, singlets and other vests, of cotton, knitted or crocheted — t-shirts etc. of cotton6109 10 00US$ 1.78 bn+0.8%768 mn piecesUS$ 2.31 per piecewas US$ 2.30
Dresses, women's or girls', of cotton — other dresses of cotton6204 42 90US$ 816 mn-1.8%89.3 mn piecesUS$ 9.13 per piecewas US$ 9.17
Babies garments etc. of cotton6111 20 00 · Garments and clothing accessories, babies', of cotton, knitted or crochetedUS$ 745 mn-9%37,102 tonnesUS$ 20.08 per kgwas US$ 19.77
Shirts, men's or boys', of cotton — of cotton: other6205 20 90US$ 637 mn-10.3%94.3 mn piecesUS$ 6.75 per piecewas US$ 6.69
Others-of-blouses,shirts and shirts-blouses of cotton6206 30 90 · Blouses, shirts and shirt-blouses, women's or girls', of cottonUS$ 631 mn-1.3%88.6 mn piecesUS$ 7.13 per piecewas US$ 6.87
Other dresses of synthetic fibres6204 43 90 · Dresses, women's or girls', of synthetic fibresUS$ 516 mn-10.2%67.6 mn piecesUS$ 7.63 per piecewas US$ 7.98
Trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts, men's or boys', of cotton — of cotton: other6203 42 90US$ 465 mn+2.2%69.5 mn piecesUS$ 6.69 per piecewas US$ 6.65
T-shirt etc. of other fibres6109 90 90 · T-shirts, singlets and other vests, of textile materials, knitted or crochetedUS$ 437 mn-8.9%181 mn piecesUS$ 2.42 per piecewas US$ 2.45
Trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts, women's or girls', of cotton — of cotton: other6204 62 90US$ 395 mn+16.7%61.5 mn piecesUS$ 6.43 per piecewas US$ 5.94
Cotton grmnts other thn kurta and salwar with/without duppatta - other6211 42 99 · Track suits and other garments, women's or girls', of cottonUS$ 342 mn+8.5%51.0 mn piecesUS$ 6.71 per piecewas US$ 6.33
Nightdresses and pyjamas of cotton6108 31 00 · Nightdresses and pyjamas, women's or girls', of cotton, knitted or crochetedUS$ 303 mn+8%86.3 mn piecesUS$ 3.51 per piecewas US$ 3.25
Knit shirts (except t-shirts) and sweat shirts,other than hand crocheted of ctn6105 10 20 · Shirts, men's or boys', of cotton, knitted or crochetedUS$ 302 mn-5.6%57.6 mn piecesUS$ 5.24 per piecewas US$ 5.34
Other garments of man-made fibres - other6211 43 90 · Track suits and other garments, women's or girls', of man-made fibresUS$ 272 mn+3.2%42.4 mn piecesUS$ 6.42 per piecewas US$ 6.00
Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles, of cotton, knitted or crocheted — jerseys etc. of cotton6110 20 00US$ 232 mn+5.7%30.7 mn piecesUS$ 7.57 per piecewas US$ 8.11

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$ 434.9 bn
2023
India among exporters
#7
of 164 countries
India’s share of world exports
3.2%
US$ 14.5 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 441.9 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 152.5 bn 33.4%
  2. 2Viet NamUS$ 30.1 bn 6.6%
  3. 3GermanyUS$ 28.8 bn 6.3%
  4. 4ItalyUS$ 28.5 bn 6.2%
  5. 5TürkiyeUS$ 18.3 bn 4%
  6. 6FranceUS$ 15.6 bn 3.4%
  7. 7IndiaUS$ 14.5 bn 3.2%
  8. 8SpainUS$ 14.3 bn 3.1%
  9. 9PolandUS$ 12 bn 2.6%
  10. 10NetherlandsUS$ 11.7 bn 2.6%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 81.6 bn 18.8%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 43.7 bn 10.1%
  3. 3FranceUS$ 26 bn 6%
  4. 4JapanUS$ 23.7 bn 5.5%
  5. 5ItalyUS$ 20.6 bn 4.7%
  6. 6SpainUS$ 20.3 bn 4.7%
  7. 7United KingdomUS$ 20.3 bn 4.7%
  8. 8NetherlandsUS$ 16.1 bn 3.7%
  9. 9PolandUS$ 13.7 bn 3.2%
  10. 10Rep. of KoreaUS$ 12 bn 2.8%

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$ 83.7 bnIndia 5.9% · gap US$ 78.8 bn
GermanyUS$ 45.1 bnIndia 3.8% · gap US$ 43.4 bn
FranceUS$ 25.5 bnIndia 4.4% · gap US$ 24.4 bn
JapanUS$ 22.8 bnIndia 1% · gap US$ 22.6 bn
ItalyUS$ 20.7 bnIndia 1.6% · gap US$ 20.4 bn
United KingdomUS$ 20.3 bnIndia 6.1% · gap US$ 19 bn
SpainUS$ 19.6 bnIndia 3.5% · gap US$ 18.9 bn
NetherlandsUS$ 16.5 bnIndia 2.7% · gap US$ 16.1 bn
South KoreaUS$ 12.4 bnIndia 0.8% · gap US$ 12.3 bn
CanadaUS$ 10.9 bnIndia 3.1% · gap US$ 10.6 bn

All knitted (Ch. 61) and woven (Ch. 62) garments. 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 readymade garments

China is the world's largest garment exporter, followed by Bangladesh and Vietnam; India sits in the next group with Turkey, Cambodia and Indonesia. India's strengths are cotton knitwear, printed and embroidered women's wear, and a full chain from fibre to finished garment at home. Buyers are spreading orders away from a single country, and trade agreements such as the India-UK CETA cut duties in some markets. Openings for a small exporter are in short runs, ethnic and embellished wear, organic cotton basics, and quick replenishment orders that large far-away factories handle poorly.

  1. 01Tech pack and costing

    Get the buyer's tech pack (design, measurements, trims) and cost fabric, making, trims, testing and freight.

  2. 02Proto and fit samples

    Make samples, get fit comments and revise until the buyer approves.

  3. 03Factory audit and lab tests

    Clear the social audit and send fabric and garment for the buyer's lab tests.

  4. 04Pre-production sample and order

    Approve the PP sample, then receive the PO with delivery date and payment terms.

  5. 05Bulk production with inline checks

    Cut, stitch and finish with inline and pre-final inspections to catch defects early.

  6. 06Final inspection and shipment

    Pass the AQL final inspection, pack to the carton plan, file the shipping bill and claim RoSCTL and drawback.

  7. 07Payment

    Collect against LC, documents against payment, or on open account for known buyers; use ECGC cover for credit terms.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting readymade garments

Do I need my own factory to export garments?
No. Many exporters work with job-work units, but the buyer will audit the factory that actually makes the goods, so choose one that can pass a social audit.
What is AQL 2.5?
It is a sampling rule: the inspector checks a set number of pieces, and the lot fails if major defects exceed the number allowed for that sample size. Train your checkers on the buyer's defect list.
Which audit should I get first?
Ask your target buyer. European retailers often accept amfori BSCI or SMETA; US brands often accept WRAP. One recognised audit is better than several half-done ones.
Can I claim RoSCTL and RoDTEP together?
Garments under Chapters 61 and 62 get RoSCTL, not RoDTEP. Drawback can be claimed with RoSCTL. Confirm the current scheme on DGFT before shipping.
Why was my shipment rejected for labels?
Common reasons are wrong fibre names, missing country of origin, care symbols that do not match the fabric, or labels not in the selling country's language. Get label artwork approved in writing.
Sources (9)
  1. AEPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council) — official site
  2. EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and labelling
  3. US FTC — Threading your way through the labelling requirements under the Textile and Wool Acts
  4. eCFR — 16 CFR Part 423, Care labelling of textile wearing apparel and certain piece goods
  5. eCFR — 16 CFR Part 1610, Standard for the flammability of clothing textiles
  6. ECHA — substances restricted under REACH (Annex XVII list with conditions)
  7. OEKO-TEX — STANDARD 100
  8. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
  9. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories

Who buys Indian readymade garments

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