At a glance
- Incoterms
- FOB, FCA, CIF, DAP
India's cotton terry towels & bath linen export trade
India exported US$4,622 mn of cotton made-ups / bed linen / home textiles in FY2024-25 according to texprocil.org.
Largest destinations by value share: USA 55.65% (~2,572 mn derived)
Export markets we serve
| Market | What matters there | Sea transit from India |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Labelling (FTC / CPSC / CBP) | 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days |
| Canada | General import clearance | 26-34 via Suez; 34-42 via Cape days |
| Germany | REACH (ECHA); Fibre labelling & restricted substances (DG GROW / ECHA) | 21-27 via Suez; 31-38 via Cape days |
| Netherlands | REACH (ECHA); Fibre labelling & restricted substances (DG GROW / ECHA) | 18-24 via Suez; 28-35 via Cape days |
| France | REACH (ECHA); Fibre labelling & restricted substances (DG GROW / ECHA) | 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) |
| Italy | REACH (ECHA); Fibre labelling & restricted substances (DG GROW / ECHA) | 15–20 d to Genoa/La Spezia via Suez (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2: typical liner schedules) |
| Spain | REACH (ECHA); Fibre labelling & restricted substances (DG GROW / ECHA) | 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 |
| United Arab Emirates | General import clearance | 3-6 days |
| Saudi Arabia | General import clearance | 6-10 days |
| Belgium | REACH (ECHA); Fibre labelling & restricted substances (DG GROW / ECHA) | 19-25 via Suez; 29-36 via Cape days |
| Poland | REACH (ECHA); Fibre labelling & restricted substances (DG GROW / ECHA) | 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 | REACH (ECHA); Fibre labelling & restricted substances (DG GROW / ECHA) | 28–35 d to Gothenburg via Hamburg/Rotterdam feeder (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Denmark | REACH (ECHA); Fibre labelling & restricted substances (DG GROW / ECHA) | 28–35 d to Aarhus/Copenhagen via Hamburg feeder (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| 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) |
| Ireland | REACH (ECHA); Fibre labelling & restricted substances (DG GROW / ECHA) | 25–32 d to Dublin via Rotterdam/Antwerp/UK feeder (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 terry towels & bath linen is sourced in India
Maharashtra — Solapur. Terry towel cluster (Solapur terry towel GI - not re-verified)
Tamil Nadu — Karur, Erode.
Haryana — Panipat.
Gujarat — Ahmedabad.
- 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-Ludhiana hand-tool cluster (NITI Aayog lists Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Nagaur, Mumbai) (Punjab; Rajasthan; Maharashtra) · ships via Mundra · season: Year-round
Typical export specification
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| GSM | 400-700 g/m² (typical; 500-600 standard) |
| Sizes | Face 30x30 cm, hand 40x70 cm, bath 70x140 cm, bath sheet 90x160 cm (typical) |
| Pile yarn | Ring-spun, combed, zero-twist or low-twist (typical) |
| Absorbency | Sinks/absorbs within a few seconds after one wash (typical) |
| Shrinkage | ≤ 5% (typical) |
| Colour fastness | Wash 4, rubbing 3-4 (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)
- Inspection certificate
- Lab test reports
- OEKO-TEX / GOTS certificates where applicable
Frequently asked questions
What is the HS code for cotton terry towels & bath linen exported from India?
Cotton Terry Towels & Bath Linen is usually classified under HS 630260 (Toilet linen and kitchen linen, of terry towelling or similar terry fabrics, of cotton). Bathrobes of terry are 6107/6108 or 6207/6208 depending on gender and knit/woven; bath mats may fall under 5702/5705 or 6302.
Which countries import the most cotton terry towels & bath linen from India?
United States (US$2,572.1 mn) were among the largest buyers of cotton made-ups / bed linen / home textiles by value in FY2024-25, derived from the destination shares published by texprocil.org.
Where is cotton terry towels & bath linen produced in India?
Main clusters: Coimbatore-Tiruppur spinning belt / Ludhiana, Tamil Nadu; Punjab; Gujarat; Maharashtra; Jalandhar-Ludhiana hand-tool cluster (NITI Aayog lists Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Nagaur, Mumbai), Punjab; Rajasthan; Maharashtra.
Which documents are needed to export cotton terry towels & bath linen?
Commercial invoice, Packing list, Bill of lading / airway bill, Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies), Inspection certificate, Lab test reports, OEKO-TEX / GOTS certificates where applicable. Destination-specific registrations are listed on each market page.
What GSM should I choose?
400-450 GSM is light and quick-drying, 500-600 GSM is the standard for retail and hotels, and 650+ GSM feels plush but dries slowly.
What is zero-twist?
Pile yarn spun with little or no twist, giving a very soft, absorbent towel. It sheds more lint at first.
Can you weave our logo in the border?
Yes, as a jacquard or dobby border, or as embroidery.
Market guides
Get a quote for cotton terry towels & bath linen
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