At a glance
- Incoterms
- FOB, CFR, CIF, FCA
India's cotton yarn export trade
India exported US$5,205 mn of cotton yarn in FY2024-25 according to static.pib.gov.in.
Largest destinations by value share: Bangladesh 43%; China 17% (tier 5); Egypt, Peru, Vietnam
Export markets we serve
| Market | What matters there | Sea transit from India |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | General import clearance | 7-12 days |
| Malaysia | General import clearance | 8-12 days |
| Indonesia | General import clearance | 11-16 days |
| Vietnam | General import clearance | 11-16 days |
| Israel | General import clearance | 12–18 d to Haifa/Ashdod via Suez; Eilat via Red Sea (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2; Red Sea security situation affects routing) |
| Brazil | General import clearance | 30–40 d to Santos via Cape/Durban or Suez–Med transhipment (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Mexico | General import clearance | 35–45 d to Manzanillo (transpacific via Singapore/Busan) or Veracruz (via Atlantic) (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Bangladesh | General import clearance | 7–12 d by feeder via Colombo/Singapore to Chattogram; land route via Petrapole–Benapole 1–3 d from Kolkata (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Sri Lanka | General import clearance | 2–4 d Nhava Sheva/Tuticorin/Chennai → Colombo (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Nepal | General import clearance | Rail/road: Kolkata → Birgunj 3–7 d; Delhi/NCR road → Sunauli/Raxaul 2–4 d (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Japan | General import clearance | 18–25 d to Tokyo/Yokohama/Kobe via Singapore (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| South Korea | General import clearance | 16–22 d to Busan via Singapore (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| China | General import clearance | 14–20 d to Shanghai/Ningbo; 12–16 d to Shenzhen via Singapore/Colombo (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Thailand | General import clearance | — |
| Turkey | General import clearance | 15–22 d to Ambarlı/Istanbul; 14–20 d to Mersin via Suez (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
Transit times are typical port-to-port estimates; regulatory items are the main product-specific requirements, not an exhaustive list.
Where cotton yarn is sourced in India
Tamil Nadu — Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Dindigul, Madurai.
Gujarat — Ahmedabad, Rajkot.
Punjab — Ludhiana.
Maharashtra — Aurangabad, Nagpur. ASSUMPTION
- Ankleshwar-Dahej-Vapi 'Golden Corridor' (largest chemical belt); Tarapur MIDC (Gujarat; Maharashtra) · ships via Hazira · season: Year-round
- Coimbatore-Tiruppur spinning belt / Ludhiana (Tamil Nadu; Punjab; Gujarat; Maharashtra) · ships via Tuticorin (VOC) · season: Cotton season Oct-Sep; new-crop yarn Dec-Mar (ASSUMPTION)
Typical export specification
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Count range | Ne 6s-30s open-end; Ne 10s-40s carded; Ne 20s-80s combed/compact (typical) |
| Count CV | ≤ 1.5% (typical) |
| Unevenness U% | ~9-11% for combed 30s ring yarn (typical) |
| CSP / strength | ~2,400-2,800 CSP for combed 30s (typical) |
| Twist | Knitting or weaving twist multiplier per buyer (typical) |
| Contamination | Contamination-controlled / auto-coned, splice-quality checked (typical) |
Agreed per contract and confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Export documentation
Documents we prepare or arrange for each shipment:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading / airway bill
- Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies)
- Uster/quality test report
- Transaction certificate (GOTS/OCS) where applicable
- Preferential CoO (e.g. SAFTA for Bangladesh, CETA for UK)
Frequently asked questions
What is the HS code for cotton yarn exported from India?
Cotton Yarn is usually classified under HS 5205 (Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread) containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale). Subheadings depend on single/multiple, combed/uncombed and count, e.g. 5205.12 carded single 14-43 Nm and 5205.24 combed single 52-80 Nm. Blends under 85% cotton go to 5206.
Which countries import the most cotton yarn from India?
Bangladesh (US$2,238.2 mn), China (US$884.9 mn) were among the largest buyers of cotton yarn by value in FY2024-25, derived from the destination shares published by static.pib.gov.in.
Where is cotton yarn produced in India?
Main clusters: Ankleshwar-Dahej-Vapi 'Golden Corridor' (largest chemical belt); Tarapur MIDC, Gujarat; Maharashtra; Coimbatore-Tiruppur spinning belt / Ludhiana, Tamil Nadu; Punjab; Gujarat; Maharashtra.
Which documents are needed to export cotton yarn?
Commercial invoice, Packing list, Bill of lading / airway bill, Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies), Uster/quality test report, Transaction certificate (GOTS/OCS) where applicable, Preferential CoO (e.g. SAFTA for Bangladesh, CETA for UK). Destination-specific registrations are listed on each market page.
What is the difference between carded and combed yarn?
Combing removes short fibres and impurities after carding. The yarn is stronger, smoother and more even, and costs more.
What is Ne?
English cotton count: the number of 840-yard hanks per pound. A higher Ne means a finer yarn.
What test report comes with the yarn?
A Uster report covering count and its CV, U%, imperfections (thin/thick places, neps), strength (CSP/RKM) and hairiness.
Market guides
Get a quote for cotton yarn
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