HS code 5208 covers cotton woven fabric and textile fabric. These attract BCD 10% and IGST 5%, giving a total effective duty of approximately 16%. The low IGST reflects India's policy of keeping textile inputs affordable for the apparel industry.
Quick answer: HS code 5208 covers cotton woven fabric including dyed cotton fabric and unbleached cotton fabric. BCD: 10%. IGST: 5%. Social Welfare Surcharge: 10% of BCD. Total effective duty: approximately 16% on CIF value. No mandatory pre-import licence for most fabrics.
HS code 5208 covers woven fabrics of cotton. 52083900 covers dyed cotton fabric weighing more than 200 g/m². 52081100 covers unbleached cotton fabric. Polyester-blend fabrics use HS 5407 or 5408. Classification depends on fibre composition, GSM (grams per square metre), and weave type.
Synthetic woven fabrics use Chapter 54 (HS 54xx). Knitted fabrics use Chapter 60 (HS 60xx). Non-woven fabrics use HS 5603. Yarn uses Chapters 50–55. Correct classification between cotton (52), synthetic (54), and blended fabrics depends on predominant fibre by weight.
Related resources: find HS codes for other products, textile and fabric imports to Bengaluru.
Total effective duty on CIF value = BCD + SWS (10% of BCD) + IGST on (CIF + BCD + SWS). For HS code 5208, BCD is 10% and IGST is 5%.
| Duty Component | Rate | On ₹500,000 CIF (fabric order) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Customs Duty (BCD) | 10% | ₹50,000 |
| Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS) | 10% of BCD | ₹5,000 |
| IGST | 5% | ₹27,750 |
| Total Customs Duty | ~16.6% of CIF | ₹82,750 |
Note: CBIC has levied ADD on certain Chinese-origin synthetic woven fabrics (particularly polyester staple fibre fabric) in past orders. Check the current DGTR notification for your specific fabric composition and HSN code.
Textile fabrics used in export garment manufacturing may qualify for the Advance Authorisation scheme, allowing duty-free import of inputs. EPCG does not apply as fabric is an input, not capital goods.
Use our import duty calculator to compute exact landed cost for your shipment.
No mandatory pre-import licence for most fabrics. Some synthetic fabrics may face anti-dumping from China — verify current DGTR notification.
No mandatory import licence is required for most textile fabrics. Standard customs clearance applies with commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, IEC code, and GST registration.
CBIC has levied anti-dumping duty on certain Chinese-origin synthetic woven fabrics (particularly polyester staple fibre fabric) in past orders. Check the current DGTR notification for your specific fabric composition and HSN code before ordering. Cotton fabrics from China are generally not subject to ADD.
Accurate declaration of fibre composition, GSM, weave type, width, and colour/finish is essential for correct HS sub-heading classification.
Need help with compliance? check your compliance requirements or read our customs clearance guide.
Typical lead time: 25–35 days via LCL or FCL sea freight from China.
Our customs clearance guide explains each step in detail. For Bengaluru-bound cargo, we clear at BLR airport (6–12 hours for green channel air freight) or ICD Whitefield (2–4 days for sea freight).
Cotton woven fabric (HS 5208) attracts BCD 10%, SWS 1%, and IGST 5% — total effective duty approximately 16% on CIF value. Polyester-blend fabric (HS 5407/5408) attracts the same 10% BCD with 5% IGST. The low IGST on textiles reflects India's policy of keeping fabric inputs affordable for the apparel industry.
Cotton fabrics: Chapter 52 (HS 52xx). Synthetic/polyester fabric: Chapter 54 (woven, HS 54xx) or Chapter 55 (staple fibre, HS 55xx). Blended fabrics classify by predominant fibre by weight. Accurate fibre composition (e.g., '65% polyester, 35% cotton') on the invoice is essential.
CBIC has levied ADD on certain Chinese-origin synthetic woven fabrics (particularly polyester staple fibre fabric) in past orders. Check the current DGTR notification for your specific fabric composition and HSN code before ordering. Cotton fabrics from China are generally not subject to ADD.
Commercial invoice with fibre composition (%), GSM, weave type, width, and colour/finish, packing list (metres per roll, number of rolls), Bill of Lading, IEC code, and GST registration. For FSSAI-relevant coatings or finishes, additional declarations may be required.
Fabric samples below ₹10,000 CIF (genuinely small samples, mutilated with 'Sample — Not for Sale' markings) may qualify for concessional treatment. Commercial fabric imports for production attract full duty regardless of order size.
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