Key facts
- India exported US$4,622 million of cotton made-ups / bed linen / home textiles in FY2024-25 (texprocil.org).
- Largest destinations by value: USA 55.65% (~2,572 mn derived)
- 1 production cluster mapped, in Tamil Nadu; Punjab; Gujarat; Maharashtra.
- Market guides for 15 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: ISO 9001, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, GOTS, Sedex SMETA audit.
- Typical minimum order: 500-1,000 sets per design/colour (typical).
Product overview
Home textiles are one of India's strongest export categories. TEXPROCIL reports cotton made-ups at about US$4.6 bn in FY2024-25, with the USA taking over half. Manufacturing runs from large vertically integrated mills (spinning to finished sets) in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Tamil Nadu to stitching units in Karur, Erode and Panipat.
Buyers are retailers, private-label brands, e-commerce sellers and hospitality distributors. They specify fibre and yarn (combed cotton, long-staple, organic), construction (percale or sateen), thread count, finish, sizes for the target market, and packaging.
Social and chemical compliance (SMETA, OEKO-TEX, GOTS) and traceability of cotton origin are standard for US and EU retailers.
HS note: Printed cotton bed linen is 6302.21; man-made fibre bed linen 6302.32/6302.22; knitted bed linen 6302.10.
Specifications
| Thread count | 144-600 TC (typical) |
|---|---|
| Construction | Percale (plain weave) or sateen (4/1 satin) (typical) |
| Fibre | 100% cotton (combed/compact), CVC, poly-cotton, organic cotton (typical) |
| Sizes | US twin/full/queen/king; EU/UK single to super-king; fitted sheet pocket 30-40 cm (typical) |
| Shrinkage | ≤ 3-5% after washing per buyer standard (typical) |
| Colour fastness | Wash 4, rubbing 3-4 (ISO 105, typical) |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
Retail essentials
200-300 TC percale in solids and prints.
Premium sateen
400-600 TC long-staple combed sateen.
Organic
GOTS-certified chains.
Hospitality
White T-200/T-300 percale for hotels (see hotel linen).
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | Printed boxes, PVC/fabric bags, belly bands, hang tags, barcodes | — |
| Bulk | Polybag per piece in 5-ply export cartons | — |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP ~25-30 cbm of cartons · 40' HC ~60-68 cbm (volume-limited). Pallet or floor-loaded cartons
Customisation: Designs, prints, embroidery, packaging and retail labelling
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
Tamil Nadu
Karur, Erode
Haryana
Panipat
Gujarat
Ahmedabad
Punjab
Ludhiana
ASSUMPTION
Market requirements by region
European Union
EU textiles need fibre-content labelling (Reg. 1007/2011) and must meet REACH Annex XVII limits (azo amines, Cr VI, APEO). ESPR digital product passport rules for textiles are expected around 2027 and the Forced Labour Regulation from Dec 2027. India lost EU GSP preferences for 2026-2028 (Implementing Reg. (EU) 2025/1909), so MFN duty applies; the EU-India FTA concluded on 27 Jan 2026 is not yet in force.
United States & Canada
US labelling: FTC fibre content, country of origin and care labels; flammability rules (16 CFR 1610 for apparel). US duty on Indian goods as of 22 Oct 2026 (per our compliance research, secondary legal analysis): MFN rate plus a 10% Section 301 tariff in force since 24 Jul 2026; Section 232 goods (steel, aluminium, copper, autos/parts) pay the 232 rate instead. Re-verify before quoting landed cost.
United Kingdom
UK-India CETA has been in force since 15 Jul 2026; claim preference with a CETA proof of origin (DCTS proofs are not interchangeable). Textiles are among the main beneficiaries of zero-duty access under CETA.
Australia & New Zealand
India-Australia ECTA (in force 29 Dec 2022) gives zero duty on most tariff lines with a preferential certificate of origin.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker or the regulator.
Quality control
- • Inline and final AQL inspection (AQL 2.5)
- • Lab tests for TC, GSM, shrinkage, colour fastness at accredited labs
- • Social compliance audit reports (SMETA/BSCI)
Certifications available
- • ISO 9001
- • OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- • GOTS
- • Sedex SMETA audit
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)
- • Inspection certificate
- • Lab test reports
- • GOTS/OEKO-TEX certificates where applicable
- • Preferential origin proof (CETA, ECTA)
Trade data
| Period | Flow | Value (USD mn) | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024-25 | India exportsLine: Cotton made-ups / bed linen / home textiles | 4,622 | verified | texprocil.org |
Top destinations: USA 55.65% (~2,572 mn derived)
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
Does a higher thread count mean better sheets?
Not always. Yarn quality (long-staple, combed) and weave matter as much. Very high counts often use multi-ply yarns.
Percale or sateen?
Percale is a plain weave: crisp and cool. Sateen is a satin weave: smoother with a sheen, slightly warmer.
What is the minimum order?
Typically 500-1,000 sets per design or colour, lower for stock fabrics.
Can you supply organic bedding?
Yes, from GOTS-certified mills with transaction certificates.
Which tests should I ask for?
Thread count, GSM, dimensional stability, colour fastness to washing and rubbing, pilling and seam strength.
Request a quote for Cotton Bed Linen (Sheets, Duvet Covers, Pillowcases)
Tell us grade, quantity and destination. We reply with options, packaging and pricing on your Incoterm.
