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Import export policy: Textiles and garments (HS 50 to 63)
Is import or export free, restricted or prohibited for textiles and garments? HS chapters 50 to 63: what each covers, DGFT policy lines, which licences apply and FY 2025-26.
Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026
Section XI of the Harmonised System covers textiles and garments. For each chapter below you see what it covers, whether export or import is free, restricted or prohibited in the DGFT documents we read, which India-side licences usually apply, and the official trade values for FY 2025-26.
| HS chapter | Exports, US$ million | Imports, US$ million | Export policy | Import policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50: Silk | 257 | 208 | Has restricted, prohibited or STE lines | Free in general |
| 51: Wool and animal hair | 152 | 335 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 52: Cotton | 5,984 | 2,129 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 53: Other vegetable fibres | 882 | 541 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 54: Man-made filaments | 1,621 | 1,958 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 55: Man-made staple fibres | 1,575 | 1,072 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 56: Wadding, felt and nonwovens | 608 | 481 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 57: Carpets and floor coverings | 1,974 | 178 | Has restricted, prohibited or STE lines | Free in general |
| 58: Special woven fabrics | 390 | 241 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 59: Coated and laminated fabrics | 437 | 938 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 60: Knitted fabrics | 495 | 950 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 61: Knitted garments | 7,642 | 818 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 62: Woven garments | 8,173 | 894 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 63: Made-up textiles | 5,995 | 677 | Free in general | 9 restricted code(s) |
Trade values are in US$ million for the financial year 2025-26 (April 2025 to March 2026), as published by TradeStat, Department of Commerce (data from DGCI&S) and fetched on 2026-10-02. They can be revised later. Shares and changes are calculated from those figures. Year-on-year change compares 2025-26 with 2024-25.
"Free in general" means we found no restricted, prohibited or STE line for this chapter. Policy changes by DGFT notification. The import notes come from DGFT's lists of restricted (407 codes) and prohibited (88 codes) imports, both as on 12 June 2019. The export notes come from DGFT's chapter-wise export schedule, 2021 edition. Check your 8-digit code on DGFT's policy search for the current position.
Chapter by chapter
Chapter 50: Silk
Silk yarn, silk fabric and silkworm cocoons.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 257 million, +58.0% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): UAE (172), China (31), USA (14), Italy (8).
- Pure races of silk worms, silkworm seeds and silkworm cocoons are Restricted: exports permitted under licence.
Usually needed: HEPC, ISEPC, DGFT policy lines
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 208 million, +17.6% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Vietnam (128), China (74), Myanmar (2), Uzbekistan (1).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: IEC only
Chapter 51: Wool and animal hair
Wool, fine animal hair, yarn and woven fabric.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 152 million, +12.3% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): UK (38), Italy (31), South Korea (12), USA (7).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: HEPC, Wooltexpro, WWEPC
Chapter 52: Cotton
Raw cotton, cotton yarn and cotton fabrics.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 5,984 million, -5.5% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Bangladesh (2,304), China (493), Sri Lanka (297), Egypt (280).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Chapter 53: Other vegetable fibres
Jute, flax, coir, hemp and paper yarn.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 882 million, +44.5% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): China (170), USA (99), Netherlands (65), Peru (49).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: JPDEPC, Coir Board
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 541 million, -19.6% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Bangladesh (131), Belgium (114), China (98), France (76).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: IEC only
Chapter 54: Man-made filaments
Polyester and nylon filament yarn and fabrics.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,621 million, -8.4% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): UAE (179), Bangladesh (147), USA (130), Turkey (122).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Chapter 55: Man-made staple fibres
Viscose and other staple fibre, yarn and fabrics.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,575 million, -2.4% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Turkey (165), Bangladesh (130), USA (106), Egypt (93).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Chapter 56: Wadding, felt and nonwovens
Nonwovens, felt, twine, ropes and cables.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 608 million, -8.7% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (145), UAE (37), UK (35), Chile (26).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: FIEO
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 481 million, +1.4% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (170), Japan (60), Bangladesh (52), Thailand (42).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: IEC only
Chapter 57: Carpets and floor coverings
Knotted carpets, rugs, mats and other textile floor coverings.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,974 million, -5.9% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (1,097), UK (114), Germany (86), Australia (86).
- Handmade woollen carpets, durries, druggets, gabbas and namdhas cannot be exported on Documents against Acceptance terms unless covered by a bank guarantee or ECGC guarantee, or the export is to the exporter's own subsidiaries, trading companies or warehouses.
Usually needed: CEPC, HEPC, ISEPC, JPDEPC, Coir Board, DGFT policy lines
Chapter 58: Special woven fabrics
Terry towelling, lace, tapestries, trimmings and embroidery.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 390 million, +6.1% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Italy (53), USA (46), Bangladesh (29), Sri Lanka (29).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 241 million, +5.9% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (140), Hong Kong (28), Vietnam (16), Sri Lanka (10).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: IEC only
Chapter 59: Coated and laminated fabrics
Impregnated, coated or laminated textile fabrics and industrial textiles.
Chapter 60: Knitted fabrics
Knitted and crocheted fabrics.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 495 million, -16.3% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Sri Lanka (237), Bangladesh (86), Kenya (35), USA (30).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: SRTEPC
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 950 million, +6.3% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (685), Malaysia (85), Vietnam (47), Bangladesh (32).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: IEC only
Chapter 61: Knitted garments
T-shirts, sweaters, hosiery and other knitted or crocheted clothing.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 7,642 million, -0.8% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (2,360), UAE (700), UK (694), Germany (531).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 818 million, +12.0% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (258), Bangladesh (227), Vietnam (63), Spain (57).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: Legal Metrology (if packed)
Chapter 62: Woven garments
Shirts, trousers, suits, dresses and other woven clothing.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 8,173 million, -1.6% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (2,467), UK (806), UAE (604), Spain (483).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 894 million, -2.0% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Bangladesh (363), China (165), Spain (88), Sri Lanka (53).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: Legal Metrology (if packed)
Chapter 63: Made-up textiles
Bed linen, towels, curtains, sacks, blankets and worn clothing.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 5,995 million, -1.8% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (2,634), UAE (299), UK (279), Germany (245).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 677 million, +6.5% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (214), Bangladesh (131), USA (70), Canada (50).
- Restricted (9 codes): worn clothing, woollen rags, cotton rags and gunny cuttings.
Usually needed: Legal Metrology (if packed), DGFT policy lines
Common questions
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Is import of textiles and garments free?
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Related guides
Official sources for this page
- DGFT list of restricted items for import (407 codes, as on 12 June 2019)
- DGFT list of prohibited items for import (88 codes, updated 12 June 2019)
- DGFT ITC (HS) Schedule 2: chapter-wise Export Policy (2021 edition)
- DGFT ITC (HS) 2022 Schedule 1: General Notes regarding Import Policy
- DGFT ITC (HS) Schedule 2: General Notes to Export Policy
- DGFT Appendix 2T: list of Export Promotion Councils and Commodity Boards
- TradeStat, Department of Commerce (data from DGCI&S)
- DGFT ITC (HS) import and export policy search