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Sourcing in India

Textile sourcing in India for Australian businesses

India combines huge cotton supply with deep craft and print skills. It is our go-to for home textiles, kitchen and table linen, knitwear and organic cotton.

Stack of folded sheet sets in pink, coral and teal on a bed
Best for
Home textiles, kitchen linen, knitwear, organic cotton
Export ports
Nhava Sheva (Mumbai), Chennai and Tuticorin
Sea transit to Melbourne
About 20 to 30 days
Main hubs
Tiruppur, Karur, Panipat, Solapur, Jaipur, Kolkata

What to buy

What India makes best

  • Home textiles: throws, cushion covers, rugs
  • Kitchen and table linen, tea towels and aprons
  • Knitwear and cotton jersey apparel
  • Organic and GOTS-certified cotton
  • Block-printed and yarn-dyed fabrics
  • Jute and cotton bags

Where the mills are

Main textile hubs

Tiruppur

Cotton knitwear, T-shirts and jersey apparel

Karur

Kitchen, table and home linen

Panipat

Rugs, throws, blankets and recycled textiles

Solapur

Terry towels and bed covers

Jaipur

Block prints and hand-finished textiles

Kolkata

Jute bags and jute products

Why India

Why source from India

  • Strong supply of organic and GOTS-certified cotton for brands that need it.
  • Print, weave and hand-finishing skills that are hard to match for home and lifestyle ranges.
  • Under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), all Australian tariffs on goods from India have been eliminated, provided the goods meet the rules of origin.

Duty and trade

Import duty and trade terms

Under AI-ECTA, imports from India that meet the agreement's rules of origin enter Australia tariff-free. GST of 10% still applies. The mill must supply the right origin documentation, which we arrange as part of the order.

Trade agreements and textile duty · Working out landed cost

FAQ

Sourcing from India: questions

Are textiles from India duty-free in Australia?

Under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, all Australian tariffs on Indian goods have been eliminated, as long as the goods meet the rules of origin and the right origin documents are supplied. GST of 10% still applies.

What is India best for?

Home textiles, kitchen and table linen, cotton knitwear, organic cotton and printed fabrics. Tiruppur, Karur and Panipat are the main hubs for these.

How long does shipping from India to Melbourne take?

Usually about 20 to 30 days port to port from Nhava Sheva, Chennai or Tuticorin, depending on the route.

Sourcing from India?

Tell us the product, quantity and target price. We will shortlist suitable India mills and send comparable quotes.