Cotton Bed Linen to United States at a glance
- Trade agreement
- No FTA; BTA under negotiation (talks 1–4 Jun 2026) [S7]. Tariff on Indian goods as of 22 Oct 2026: MFN + 10% Section 301 (from 24 Jul 2026), or the Section 232 rate for steel/aluminium/autos/copper; IEEPA tariffs struck
The United States market for Indian cotton bed linen
United States is one of the largest destinations for India's cotton made-ups / bed linen / home textiles exports: about US$2,572.1 mn in FY2024-25, derived from the destination share in the official export data.
US labelling: FTC fibre content, country of origin and care labels; flammability rules (16 CFR 1610 for apparel). US duty on Indian goods as of 22 Oct 2026 (per our compliance research, secondary legal analysis): MFN rate plus a 10% Section 301 tariff in force since 24 Jul 2026; Section 232 goods (steel, aluminium, copper, autos/parts) pay the 232 rate instead. Re-verify before quoting landed cost.
Indian community in United States (Ministry of External Affairs estimate): 6,079,221 overseas Indians (PIO 3,767,737 + NRI 2,311,484) — largest PIO population worldwide.
Cotton Bed Linen specification for United States orders
| Parameter | Typical export value |
|---|---|
| Thread count | 144-600 TC (typical) |
| Construction | Percale (plain weave) or sateen (4/1 satin) (typical) |
| Fibre | 100% cotton (combed/compact), CVC, poly-cotton, organic cotton (typical) |
| Sizes | US twin/full/queen/king; EU/UK single to super-king; fitted sheet pocket 30-40 cm (typical) |
| Shrinkage | ≤ 3-5% after washing per buyer standard (typical) |
| Colour fastness | Wash 4, rubbing 3-4 (ISO 105, typical) |
Final values are agreed per contract and checked against the United States requirements below, then confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Import requirements in United States
| Requirement | Regulator | Document / registration |
|---|---|---|
| Labelling | FTC / CPSC / CBP | Fibre content, care, country of origin; flammability 16 CFR 1610 |
General guidance as of November 2026. Confirm with your customs broker or the regulator before shipping. Final regulatory decisions require professional verification.
Shipping cotton bed linen to United States
Typical sea transit Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) → New York / New Jersey: 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days. India-USEC services route via Suez/Med when open; FDA prior notice >=8h before arrival by sea
Supply window: Indian cotton bed linen is mainly produced or harvested Cotton season Oct-Sep; new-crop yarn Dec-Mar (ASSUMPTION). Allow 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days at sea plus 5–10 days for inspection, export clearance and United States customs when you set delivery dates.
Container loading (estimate): 20' ~25-30 cbm of cartons, 40' HC ~60-68 cbm (volume-limited).
Quoted on FOB, FCA, CIF, DAP, DDP; CIF New York / New Jersey is the common choice for first orders.
Where buyers are in United States
| City | Port / airport | Buyer sectors |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | Port of New York and New Jersey (Newark/Elizabeth, Staten Island, Red Hook) · John F. Kenn | HORECA, Indian diaspora grocery & spice distributors, apparel/home-textile importers |
| Los Angeles | Port of Los Angeles / Port of Long Beach (San Pedro Bay) - largest US container gateway · | e-commerce 3PLs, apparel & home-textile importers (LA Fashion District), Indian diaspora grocers (Artesia) |
| Houston | Port Houston (Bayport & Barbours Cut container terminals) · George Bush Intercontinental ( | Indian diaspora grocery & restaurants, oilfield & engineering goods buyers (pipes, valves |
| Seattle | Northwest Seaport Alliance (Seattle & Tacoma) · Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | e-commerce sellers/3PLs, aerospace & engineering-component buyers, Indian diaspora grocers (Bellevue/Redmond/Kent) |
| Miami | PortMiami; Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) · Miami International (MIA) - top US internat | HORECA, Latin America re-export distributors, pharma/generics for LatAm |
| Charleston | Port of Charleston (SC Ports: Wando Welch, Hugh K. Leatherman terminals) · Charleston Inte | HORECA, auto-component & engineering importers, aerospace suppliers |
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to import cotton bed linen into United States?
Key requirements: Labelling — FTC / CPSC / CBP (Fibre content, care, country of origin; flammability 16 CFR 1610). Your customs broker confirms the full list for your HS line.
How long does shipping from India to United States take?
Typically 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days port-to-port from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) to New York / New Jersey, plus 5–10 days for stuffing, export clearance and destination clearance (estimates).
Does United States have a trade agreement with India?
No FTA; BTA under negotiation (talks 1–4 Jun 2026) [S7]. Tariff on Indian goods as of 22 Oct 2026: MFN + 10% Section 301 (from 24 Jul 2026), or the Section 232 rate for steel/aluminium/autos/copper; IEEPA tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court 20 Feb 2026 — verify weekly [06 §C.3] A preferential certificate of origin is needed to claim any reduced duty.
How much cotton bed linen does United States buy from India?
India's exports of cotton made-ups / bed linen / home textiles to United States were about US$2,572.1 mn in FY2024-25, derived from the destination share published in India's official export data.
Which HS code applies to cotton bed linen from India?
Usually HS 630231. United States applies its own national tariff extension to the 6-digit code; confirm the full line with your broker.
Does a higher thread count mean better sheets?
Not always. Yarn quality (long-staple, combed) and weave matter as much. Very high counts often use multi-ply yarns.
Percale or sateen?
Percale is a plain weave: crisp and cool. Sateen is a satin weave: smoother with a sheen, slightly warmer.
What is the minimum order?
Typically 500-1,000 sets per design or colour, lower for stock fabrics.
Related guides
Request a quote: cotton bed linen to United States
Tell us grade, quantity and your port in United States. We quote CIF/CFR with the destination documents listed above.