Cotton Yarn to China at a glance
- Trade agreement
- No FTA. Both are in the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) — limited tariff concessions; India restricts FDI (Press Note 3) and applies many QCOs/anti-dumping duties [S7 — not mentioned; S9]
The China market for Indian cotton yarn
China is one of the largest destinations for India's cotton yarn exports: about US$884.9 mn in FY2024-25, derived from the destination share in the official export data.
China buys Indian cotton yarn depending on the price gap with domestic and Vietnamese yarn (about 17%, tier-5 source).
Cotton Yarn specification for China orders
| Parameter | Typical export 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) |
Final values are agreed per contract, then confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Shipping cotton yarn to China
Typical sea transit from India: 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) days.
Supply window: Indian cotton yarn is mainly produced or harvested Year-round; Cotton season Oct-Sep; new-crop yarn Dec-Mar (ASSUMPTION). Allow 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) days at sea plus 5–10 days for inspection, export clearance and China customs when you set delivery dates.
Container loading (estimate): 20' ~9-11 MT, 40' HC ~18-21 MT.
Quoted on FOB, CFR, CIF, FCA; CIF China is the common choice for first orders.
Where buyers are in China
| City | Port / airport | Buyer sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Port of Shanghai (Yangshan Deep-Water & Waigaoqiao) - world's largest container port · Sha | textiles/cotton yarn importers, pharma/API traders, chemicals & dyes |
| Guangzhou | Port of Guangzhou (Nansha) · Guangzhou Baiyun International (CAN) - major cargo hub | apparel & textile wholesalers (Baima, Shisanhang), leather & footwear traders |
| Qingdao | Port of Qingdao (Qianwan) - world top-10 container port · Qingdao Jiaodong International ( | textiles & garments (Jimo), appliance & electronics component buyers, tyre/rubber trade |
| Ningbo | Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan - world's largest port by cargo tonnage, top-3 by containers · Nin | textile & garment exporters' input buyers, plastics/chemicals, engineering & auto-part trade |
| Yiwu | Ningbo-Zhoushan (~250 km) / Shanghai; Yiwu rail port & Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe rail · Yiwu Ai | Indian importers of general merchandise/small commodities (large resident Indian trader community - ASSUMPTION on size), textiles/accessories, gifts & toys |
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from India to China take?
Typically 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) days at sea (estimate).
Does China have a trade agreement with India?
No FTA. Both are in the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) — limited tariff concessions; India restricts FDI (Press Note 3) and applies many QCOs/anti-dumping duties [S7 — not mentioned; S9] A preferential certificate of origin is needed to claim any reduced duty.
How much cotton yarn does China buy from India?
India's exports of cotton yarn to China were about US$884.9 mn in FY2024-25, derived from the destination share published in India's official export data.
Which HS code applies to cotton yarn from India?
Usually HS 5205. China applies its own national tariff extension to the 6-digit code; confirm the full line with your broker.
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.
Related guides
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