At a glance
- Incoterms
- FOB, FCA, CFR, CIF, DAP
India's surgical cotton, gauze & wound dressings export trade
India exported US$756.8 mn of surgicals / medical consumables in FY2024-25 according to pharmexcil.com. That statistical line covers more than surgical cotton, gauze & wound dressings; a product-level figure is not published.
Largest destinations by value share: unavailable
Export markets we serve
| Market | What matters there | Sea transit from India |
|---|---|---|
| France | CE marking (Market surveillance authorities / Notified Bodies) | 20–25 d to Le Havre; 15–20 d to Marseille-Fos (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2: typical liner schedules) |
| United Arab Emirates | General import clearance | 3-6 days |
| Saudi Arabia | Registration (SFDA) | 6-10 days |
| Germany | CE marking (Market surveillance authorities / Notified Bodies) | 21-27 via Suez; 31-38 via Cape days |
| Netherlands | CE marking (Market surveillance authorities / Notified Bodies) | 18-24 via Suez; 28-35 via Cape days |
| Italy | CE marking (Market surveillance authorities / Notified Bodies) | 15–20 d to Genoa/La Spezia via Suez (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2: typical liner schedules) |
| Spain | CE marking (Market surveillance authorities / Notified Bodies) | 15–20 d to Valencia/Barcelona/Algeciras via Suez (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2: typical liner schedules) |
| United Kingdom | General import clearance | 20-26 via Suez; 30-37 via Cape days |
| Tanzania | General import clearance | 10–16 d to Dar es Salaam (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| South Africa | General import clearance | 12-18 days |
| Kenya | General import clearance | 9-15 days |
| Qatar | General import clearance | 6–9 d to Hamad Port, often via Jebel Ali/Salalah transhipment (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Kuwait | General import clearance | 8–12 d to Shuwaikh/Shuaiba, usually via Jebel Ali (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Oman | General import clearance | 3–5 d Mundra/Nhava Sheva → Sohar/Muscat; 4–6 d Salalah (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Bahrain | General import clearance | 7–10 d via Jebel Ali/Dammam (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Belgium | CE marking (Market surveillance authorities / Notified Bodies) | 19-25 via Suez; 29-36 via Cape days |
| Poland | CE marking (Market surveillance authorities / Notified Bodies) | 28–35 d to Gdańsk (direct Asia–Baltic loops or via Hamburg/Rotterdam feeder) (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Sweden | CE marking (Market surveillance authorities / Notified Bodies) | 28–35 d to Gothenburg via Hamburg/Rotterdam feeder (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Denmark | CE marking (Market surveillance authorities / Notified Bodies) | 28–35 d to Aarhus/Copenhagen via Hamburg feeder (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Nigeria | Registration (NAFDAC) | 25-38 days |
Transit times are typical port-to-port estimates; regulatory items are the main product-specific requirements, not an exhaustive list.
Where surgical cotton, gauze & wound dressings is sourced in India
Gujarat — Ahmedabad, Rajkot. ASSUMPTION - cluster location from trade knowledge
Tamil Nadu — Coimbatore, Erode. ASSUMPTION - cotton textile belt with gauze/bandage weaving
Maharashtra — Mumbai, Thane.
- 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)
- Jalandhar surgical cluster (Basti Danishmandan) (Punjab; Tamil Nadu) · ships via Mundra · season: Year-round
- Ahmedabad / Hyderabad MedTech park / Chennai (Gujarat; Telangana; Tamil Nadu; Haryana/Delhi; Maharashtra) · ships via Nhava Sheva · season: Year-round
Typical export specification
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Absorbent cotton | Sinking time ≤ 10 s and absorbency ≥ 23 g/g per BP/IP absorbent cotton monograph (typical) |
| Gauze construction | 100% cotton, bleached; thread counts from ~17x13 to 24x20 per inch; 4-16 ply swabs (typical) |
| Sterilisation | Ethylene oxide or gamma; sterility assurance level 10^-6 for sterile items (typical) |
| Sizes | Swabs 5x5, 7.5x7.5, 10x10 cm; rolls 90 cm x 100 m; bandages 5-15 cm wide (typical) |
| Optional | X-ray detectable thread in swabs and laparotomy sponges (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)
- Certificate of analysis
- Sterilisation certificate (sterile lots)
- ISO 13485 certificate of the plant
- Free sale certificate
- Device registration in destination (held by importer)
Frequently asked questions
What is the HS code for surgical cotton, gauze & wound dressings exported from India?
Surgical Cotton, Gauze & Wound Dressings is usually classified under HS 300590 (Wadding, gauze, bandages and similar articles impregnated or packed for medical/surgical purposes (other than adhesive dressings)). Adhesive dressings fall under 3005.10. Bulk absorbent cotton not put up for retail/medical use may be classed under 5601; confirm per pack format.
Where is surgical cotton, gauze & wound dressings produced in India?
Main clusters: Coimbatore-Tiruppur spinning belt / Ludhiana, Tamil Nadu; Punjab; Gujarat; Maharashtra; Jalandhar surgical cluster (Basti Danishmandan), Punjab; Tamil Nadu; Ahmedabad / Hyderabad MedTech park / Chennai, Gujarat; Telangana; Tamil Nadu; Haryana/Delhi; Maharashtra.
Which documents are needed to export surgical cotton, gauze & wound dressings?
Commercial invoice, Packing list, Bill of lading / airway bill, Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies), Certificate of analysis, Sterilisation certificate (sterile lots), ISO 13485 certificate of the plant. Destination-specific registrations are listed on each market page.
Is gauze a medical device?
In the EU, UK, US and most other markets, yes. The importer or manufacturer handles the device registration and technical file.
Sterile or non-sterile?
Both. Sterile items are EO- or gamma-sterilised in validated pouches; non-sterile bulk is used by hospitals that sterilise in-house.
Can swabs include an X-ray detectable thread?
Yes, for theatre swabs and laparotomy sponges.
Market guides
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