Buyer guide · Updated November 2026
Terry towel exports
from India
Where towels are made, what they cost, how long they take and how to check a supplier. In plain words.
1 · Why India
Why India leads in terry towels.
01
Cotton at home
India grows its own cotton, including long-staple types used for soft terry.
02
Towel clusters
Spinning, weaving, dyeing and stitching units sit close together in Solapur and Karur.
03
Skilled people
Many weavers and supervisors come from families that have made towels for generations.
04
Ports in Kerala
Cochin has direct Gulf sailings. Vizhinjam, India's deepest container port, has direct mainline calls to Europe.
2 · Where
The main towel hubs.
Solapur
Maharashtra
The best-known hub. Solapur terry towels hold a GI tag. Strong in hotel grades, 400–700 GSM.
Karur
Tamil Nadu
Home textile hub. Strong in printed, dyed and embroidered towels for retail and hotels.
Ahmedabad
Gujarat
Good choice for organic cotton, with GOTS certification available.
More on the city that sets the standard: Solapur terry towel heritage.
3 · What
Towel types, drawn to scale.
Face cloth
30×30 cm
400–500 GSM
Hand towel
40×70 cm
400–600 GSM
Gym towel
40×100 cm
300–400 GSM
Bath towel
70×140 cm
400–700 GSM
Bath sheet
90×150 cm
500–700 GSM
Pool towel
80×160 cm
350–500 GSM
Also: spa towels at 650–800 GSM and 5-piece hotel sets. Not sure of the weight? Read the GSM guide.
4 · How
How a terry towel is made.
Six stages. Each one runs in a specialist unit.
- 1
Spinning
Cotton becomes yarn. The yarn type sets softness: ring-spun, combed or zero-twist.
- 2
Weaving
Two sets of warp yarn: one tight for the base, one slack that forms the loops.
- 3
Dyeing & washing
Scoured, dyed to your shade and softened. Shade is checked against the approved sample.
Shade check - 4
Cutting & stitching
Cut to size, hemmed, borders finished.
- 5
Labels & embroidery
Your care label, logo or embroidery, if ordered.
- 6
Inspect & pack
Final AQL 2.5 inspection, folding and export cartons.
AQL 2.5
Step by step in detail: the terry towel manufacturing process.
5 · Proof
Certificates worth asking for.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Tests for harmful substances. Most EU, UK and US retailers ask for it.
GOTS
Needed if you sell the towels as organic. Covers fibre to finished product.
ISO 9001
A quality management system. Helps repeat orders stay consistent.
Better Cotton (BCI)
A sustainable cotton sourcing programme some ESG buyers request.
Anabyn holds OEKO-TEX Standard 100 on request. See our certificates and how to check them.
6 · Customs
HS code and import duty.
Cotton terry towels
6302.60
India's 8-digit export code: 63026090
Duty on towels, by market
- USA
- typically 9.6–11.4% ad valorem (verify with US broker)
- UK
- about 8% today; 0% once the India-UK CETA comes into force
- EU (Germany)
- 12% EU MFN (India GSP withdrawn 2026-28)
- Australia
- 0% under the Australia-India ECTA (Certificate of Origin needed)
- UAE
- 0% under India-UAE CEPA with a CEPA Certificate of Origin (5% GCC tariff without it)
Indicative rates. Confirm with your customs broker, or use the import duty calculator.
7 · Price and time
What it costs and how long it takes.
Trial runs start at 500 pieces. Wholesale pricing starts at 2,000 pieces per SKU.
Bath towel, 70 × 140 cm, price per piece
FOB Cochin · plain dyed · USD
400-450 GSM
Economy
500-550 GSM
Mid-range
600 GSM
Luxury
650-700 GSM
Ultra
Trial runs start at 500 pieces. Wholesale pricing starts at 2,000 pieces per SKU. Ring-spun and zero-twist sit at the top of each band. Borders and custom packing cost extra.
Order to dispatch from Kerala
6-11 weeks
45-73 days. Sea time to your port comes on top.
Production
30-45 days
What happens
Yarn, weaving, dyeing, cutting and stitching run in specialist units. We check the shade against your approved sample.
What you get or do
You get progress photos on request.
Payment: 50% advance, 50% on production completion (before dispatch). Tap a stage for details.
8 · Your market
Days at sea to your market.
Every order sails from Cochin or Vizhinjam in Kerala. Pick a region.
Days at sea from Cochin or Vizhinjam. Some markets list two coasts or ports, so the bar shows the full range. Tap a market for its guide.
9 · Check
How to check an exporter.
- 1
Check the IEC
Every Indian exporter needs an Import Export Code. Verify it at dgft.gov.in.
- 2
Order a paid sample
Approve a physical sample at your GSM, cotton and size. Weigh it and wash it.
- 3
Verify certificates
Look up each certificate number on the issuer's own site. A PDF copy proves nothing.
- 4
Book an inspection
For a first order above $10,000, book SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek at AQL 2.5.
The full walkthrough: how to import terry towels from India.
Questions buyers ask
Why does India lead global terry towel exports?
Four reasons: a large cotton supply, mature towel clusters such as Solapur and Karur, a skilled weaving workforce, and good export ports, including Cochin and Vizhinjam in Kerala.
What is the HS code for terry towel export from India?
HS 6302.60 internationally. India uses the 8-digit HSN 63026090 for 100% cotton terry towels on export declarations. Confirm the exact subheading with your customs broker.
What is the FOB price for terry towels from India?
Our published FOB Cochin bands for a 70×140 cm bath towel: $1.40–$2.20 /pc at 400–450 GSM, $2.20–$2.80 /pc at 500–550 GSM, $2.80–$3.50 /pc at 600 GSM and $3.80–$5.00 /pc at 650–700 GSM. Hand towels are $0.90–$1.40 /pc. Borders, embroidery and custom packing cost extra.
What is the MOQ for terry towels from India?
Trial runs start at 500 pieces. Wholesale pricing starts at 2,000 pieces per SKU. Smaller towel orders can sometimes join a run already in production, in that run's size, GSM and colour.
What certifications should I look for?
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 for chemical safety, GOTS if you sell the towels as organic, and ISO 9001 for quality systems. Also check the exporter's IEC on the DGFT portal and their GST registration. Verify every certificate number on the issuer's own website.
How long does shipping from India to the USA take?
Sea freight from Cochin takes West Coast 18–22 days · East Coast 25–30 days. Production takes 30–45 days before that, after a 7–14 days sample. Plan on about 10–14 weeks from sample to US port.
What import duty applies to terry towels in the USA?
Cotton terry towels (HS 6302.60) pay about 9.6–11.4% US duty. There is no India–USA trade deal as of 2026, so the full rate applies. Check current rates, including any extra tariffs, with your US customs broker.
How do I check an Indian exporter is real?
Verify their IEC at dgft.gov.in and their GSTIN on the GST portal. Check any OEKO-TEX or GOTS certificate number on the issuer's database. Order a paid sample, and book an independent inspection for your first bulk order.
Ready to source from India?
Send your GSM, sizes and quantity. We'll reply with an FOB quote within one business day.