What Is the Current Import Duty on Fabric in India? Rates, Types, and How They’re Calculated
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The current import duty on fabric in India is not a single flat rate. It depends on the exact fabric type, composition, and HS/HSN classification. As a practical example, the 2025-26 Budget introduced a 20% duty or ₹115/kg, whichever is higher, on nine types of knitted fabric. Other fabric categories can attract different rates, so you need the correct tariff code before quoting any number.
What Is the Current Import Duty on Fabric in India?
The short answer is that there is no universal fabric duty for all imports into India. The payable duty depends on the product’s precise classification, and the headline rate is often only part of the final bill. For example, one commonly reported current case is knitted fabric at 20% or ₹115 per kg, whichever is higher, while other fabric categories may be taxed differently depending on their tariff heading.
If you are trying to work out the duty on fabric, start by identifying the exact material, weave or knit structure, composition, and use. Then match it to the correct HS/HSN code. Only after that should you look up the applicable customs rate.
For a product-specific illustration, the customs listing for other polyester fabrics shows a customs basic duty of 20% or Rs. 115 per kg, whichever is higher. That is a reminder that fabric rates are classification-driven, not one-size-fits-all.
How Fabric Import Duty Varies by Textile Type
Fabric duty changes according to textile type, construction, and tariff code. A cotton fabric, a knitted fabric, a polyester fabric, and a silk fabric may all sit in different tariff lines and therefore attract different duty treatment.
| Fabric type | Example rate or range | What the source shows |
|---|---|---|
| Knitted fabric | 20% or ₹115/kg, whichever is higher | Budget-linked example for nine types of knitted fabric |
| Polyester fabric | 20% or ₹115/kg, whichever is higher | Product-specific customs listing example |
| Cotton fabric | 10% to 20% | Indicative range reported in a live source |
| Synthetic fabric | 20% to 25% | Indicative range reported in a live source |
| Silk fabric | 10% to 15% | Indicative range reported in a live source |
These figures are best treated as examples and ranges, not as a consolidated official tariff list for every fabric. If you are importing a blend, coated textile, impregnated textile, or any fabric with special treatment, the rate can differ again. That is why the exact description on the invoice and packing list matters so much.
Searchers often want a simple percentage, but textiles rarely work that way. The duty can change depending on whether the fabric is woven or knitted, the fibre mix, whether the item is coated or impregnated, and how customs classifies it under the tariff.
Why the HS/HSN Code Comes First
The correct rate cannot be chosen until the correct classification is known. In customs practice, the HS/HSN code is the starting point for determining the duty rate, any special levy, and the tax base used for calculation.
If you are unsure of the code, use a proper HS code lookup and harmonised schedule reference before you rely on any duty figure. A calculator can help with estimation, but it does not replace classification.
This matters because two items that look similar commercially may fall under different tariff lines. A knitted polyester fabric and a woven cotton fabric can be taxed differently even when both are sold simply as “fabric”.
How to Calculate Import Duty on Fabric in India
Import duty is not just the basic customs duty rate. The total amount you pay may include several components, and the final landed cost can be higher than the headline duty percentage.
The main components you may see
- Basic customs duty (BCD): the core customs duty charged on the imported item.
- Social welfare surcharge (SWS): a surcharge linked to customs duty.
- IGST: integrated goods and services tax applied on imports.
- Anti-dumping duty or other additional duties: applicable only where the tariff schedule or notification provides for them.
A useful worked example from the Wise import duty calculator for India shows the calculation sequence: the basic duty is applied first, then social welfare surcharge, and then IGST is calculated on the customs value plus applicable customs duties. That is why the final amount is usually higher than the base duty alone.
Another customs guide explains that imports into India can involve BCD, IGST, social welfare surcharge, and other charges depending on the product category. In other words, if you only budget for the basic duty, you may under-estimate the amount you will actually pay.
A simple way to estimate the duty
- Identify the exact fabric type and composition.
- Find the correct HS/HSN code for that fabric.
- Check the applicable basic customs duty rate.
- Add social welfare surcharge if it applies.
- Apply IGST on the correct assessable base.
- Include any special duty, such as anti-dumping duty, if relevant.
If you want to estimate landed cost accurately, use the declared CIF value or customs value, depending on the method used in the calculator or customs assessment. The key point is that the basic duty is not the total payable amount.
How to Check the Correct Fabric Duty Rate Before Importing
Before you import fabric into India, verify the rate against the latest tariff classification and current customs guidance. Duty rates can change through Budget announcements or tariff notifications, so an older PDF or outdated rate list may no longer be correct.
The current budget example for knitted fabric shows exactly why this matters: textile rates can be adjusted for specific product groups. If you are using a rate list or a PDF-style schedule, check that it reflects the latest notification before making commercial decisions.
For importers, the process also involves basic compliance. If you are bringing fabric into India for business, you generally need an importer identity such as an IEC, which is part of the normal import framework. You can confirm the import-export registration context through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade website.
A customs duty calculator is helpful for planning, but it should be treated as an estimator only. It is not a substitute for official classification, tariff verification, or a customs broker’s review of the exact goods description.
Fabric vs. Clothes: Why the Duty Rate Can Be Different
Fabric and finished clothing are not the same customs category. That distinction matters because finished apparel can attract a different duty treatment from the fabric used to make it.
This is also why a question about “what is the import duty on clothes from India to the USA?” is a separate issue from importing fabric into India. The direction of trade changes the tariff question completely. For that reason, you should not assume a fabric rate in India tells you anything definitive about apparel duties in the United States.
If you need a route-based comparison, see our guide on tariff and duty differences by route. That article deals with the export direction and U.S. duty context, which is separate from importing fabric into India.
For readers who are comparing imports into India with export questions, the safest rule is simple: always check the destination country, the product category, and the exact tariff code before assuming a rate.
Recent Tariff Changes Affecting Textile Imports
Textile duties are not fixed forever. Governments can revise them in a Budget or through customs notifications, and textile categories are often among the items that receive targeted changes.
A current example is the 2025-26 change for certain knitted fabrics, where the duty was set at 20% or ₹115/kg, whichever is higher. That shows why importers should re-check the rate before each shipment rather than relying on a previous transaction or an old spreadsheet.
If a shipment gets held while duty is assessed, the issue may be classification, valuation, or missing paperwork rather than the rate itself. If that happens, it can be useful to understand how customs delays and next steps are handled in practice.
What Importers Should Check Before Shipping Fabric to India
- Exact fabric description, including fibre composition and construction.
- Correct HS/HSN code for the specific fabric.
- Whether the item is woven, knitted, coated, impregnated, or blended.
- Basic customs duty, surcharge, IGST, and any additional duty.
- Whether the duty is ad valorem, specific, or a higher-of-two structure such as 20% or ₹115/kg.
- Whether the rate has changed in a recent budget or notification.
- Whether the shipment documents match the actual goods exactly.
If you have already paid excess duty because the wrong rate or value was used, there may be a route to recover it. In that case, our guide on refund for excess customs duty explains the next steps.
Bottom Line
The current import duty on fabric in India depends on the exact fabric type and HS/HSN classification. There is no single blanket rate for all fabric imports. A current example shows knitted fabric at 20% or ₹115/kg whichever is higher, while other textile categories can fall into different ranges. To estimate the real cost, identify the correct code first, then calculate the basic customs duty, social welfare surcharge, IGST, and any other applicable levy. Because rates can change, always verify the latest tariff before importing.
