Key facts
- India exported US$1,792 million of dyes in FY2024-25 (chemexcil.in).
- Largest destinations by value: unavailable
- 1 production cluster mapped, in Tamil Nadu; Punjab; Gujarat; Maharashtra.
- Market guides for 22 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, EU REACH compliance, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, GOTS.
- Typical minimum order: 500 kg - 1 MT per shade group (typical).
Product overview
Gujarat (Ahmedabad-Vatva, Ankleshwar, Vapi) and Maharashtra are among the world's largest centres for dyes and dye intermediates. Dyes exports were about US$1.79 bn for April-December FY2024-25 (CHEMEXCIL).
Reactive dyes are the main dye class for cotton, viscose and linen. They bond chemically with the fibre and give bright shades with good wash fastness. The main types are vinyl-sulphone (VS), mono-chloro-triazine (MCT) and bifunctional (ME/HE) for exhaust, cold-pad-batch and printing processes.
Buyers are dye houses, textile mills and printers in Bangladesh, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Vietnam, Indonesia and Latin America. European and brand-led supply chains ask for compliance with REACH, the ZDHC MRSL and restricted-substance lists.
Specifications
| Strength | 100% (standard), 150% or 200% vs standard type (typical) |
|---|---|
| Moisture | ≤ 5% for powders (typical) |
| Insolubles | ≤ 0.5% (typical) |
| Light fastness | 4-6 on ISO 105-B02 depending on shade (typical) |
| Wash fastness | 4-5 on ISO 105-C06 (typical) |
| Restricted substances | Free of REACH Annex XVII banned aromatic amines; heavy metals within ETAD/ZDHC limits (typical) |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
Vinyl sulphone (VS)
Workhorse exhaust dyes, e.g. Reactive Black 5.
Bifunctional (ME/HE)
Higher fixation, good reproducibility for exhaust dyeing.
Cold-pad-batch / printing grades
Selected for continuous and printing processes.
Liquid dyes
For automated dispensing systems.
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk | 25 kg bags in cartons or fibre drums; 1,000 kg IBCs for liquids | — |
| Sample | 100-500 g for lab dips | — |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP ~12-16 MT palletised · 40' HC ~20-24 MT. Usually non-DG, but some dyes are respiratory sensitisers - follow the SDS
Customisation: Buyer-brand labelling, standardised strengths, shade cards
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
Gujarat
Ahmedabad, Bharuch, Valsad
Vatva, Ankleshwar, Vapi GIDC estates
Maharashtra
Palghar, Ratnagiri
Tarapur, Lote-Parshuram
Market requirements by region
European Union
Dyes need REACH registration via the EU importer or an Only Representative, CLP labelling and a 16-section SDS; azo dyes releasing listed amines are restricted in textiles (Annex XVII).
Southeast Asia
Vietnam and Indonesia textile mills source widely from India and China.
Other markets
Turkey (KKDIK registration) and Brazil are large textile dyeing markets.
South Asia
Bangladesh's garment industry is a core market for Indian reactive dyes, served overland and via Kolkata/Chattogram.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker or the regulator.
Quality control
- • Shade and strength match against standard (lab dip)
- • CoA per batch
- • Restricted-substance test reports (amines, heavy metals) on request
Certifications available
- • ISO 9001
- • ISO 14001
- • EU REACH compliance
- • OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- • GOTS
Held by the producing supplier for the specific lot; copies shared with the quote.
Shipping documents
- • Commercial invoice
- • Packing list
- • Bill of lading / airway bill
- • Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies)
- • Certificate of analysis
- • Safety data sheet (GHS)
- • REACH registration/OR confirmation for EU
- • ZDHC MRSL conformance letter on request
Trade data
| Period | Flow | Value (USD mn) | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024-25 | India exportsLine: Dyes | 1,791.6 | verified | chemexcil.in |
Top destinations: unavailable
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
What strength do you sell?
Standard (100%) and concentrated (150-200%) grades. Compare price per unit of strength, not per kg.
Are your dyes free of banned amines?
Supplied dyes are tested against REACH Annex XVII amine limits, and reports are available per batch on request.
Can you match our shade?
Yes. Send a standard and the partner lab will submit dips and recipes.
Are reactive dyes dangerous goods?
Most are not classified for transport, but some carry respiratory-sensitiser hazard labels. The SDS governs.
Do you supply ZDHC-compliant dyes?
Yes, from producers listed on the ZDHC Gateway, on request.
Request a quote for Reactive Dyes for Cotton & Cellulosics
Tell us grade, quantity and destination. We reply with options, packaging and pricing on your Incoterm.
