India Import Guide
Import Second Hand Clothes to India — Complete Sourcing Guide
India is the world's fastest-growing market for used clothing imports. This guide covers customs clearance, HSN codes, port routing, and the top 10 trading cities — everything you need to start importing from China.
Customs & Clearance
India Customs — Key Facts for Importers
HSN Code
63090000 / 63109040
HSN 63090000 for worn clothing bales; HSN 63109040 for hosiery rags / synthetic rags. Confirm with your CHA based on actual cargo.
Cargo Description
UNSERVICEABLE PREMUTILATED AND FUMIGATED SYNTHETICS / HOSIERY RAGS
Required exact wording on shipping documents for hosiery rags cargo.
Port of Discharge
Pipavav or Mundra
Both sea ports route cargo to ICD Patli for inland clearance.
Inland Clearance Depot
ICD PATLI, INDIA
Currently the primary ICD for used clothing clearance in India. Most containers are routed here via Pipavav or Mundra — confirm current routing with your CHA before booking.
Port of Loading
Shekou (Shenzhen) / Nansha (Guangzhou) / Huangpu (Guangzhou)
Three available loading ports in Guangdong. Belofy arranges the most cost-effective option per shipment.
Standard Container Load
28,800 KG net weight per 40HQ
Summer clothing: 320 bales × 90 kg. Winter clothes: 360 bales × 80 kg. Both load to 28,800 kg net in a 40HQ container. Confirm product mix with Belofy before booking.
Top 10 India Markets
Where Indian Importers Sell Used Clothing
These are the 10 largest used clothing trading hubs in India, ranked by market size and trading volume.
Panipat
Haryana
India's #1 used clothing hub. Largest recycling and wholesale market in the country.
Delhi NCR
Delhi
Major retail and wholesale distribution centre for North India.
Kandla / Gandhidham
Gujarat
Key port city with strong import and wholesale activity.
Mumbai
Maharashtra
India's commercial capital — large consumer and wholesale market.
Hyderabad
Telangana
Fast-growing South India market with strong demand for sorted garments.
Kashmir
J&K
High demand for winter clothing — blankets, sweaters, and heavy garments.
Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
Large UP market serving Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across the state.
Kolkata
West Bengal
Gateway to East India and Northeast markets.
Mizoram
Mizoram
Northeast India — strong demand for second hand clothing at all price points.
Nagpur
Maharashtra
Central India distribution hub serving Maharashtra and neighbouring states.
Market Overview
India's Used Clothing Import Market — 2025 Data
Based on WITS/UN Comtrade 2025 data (sum of top source countries). India HS 6309 (worn clothing) imports by source country: US$108.78m / 231.62m kg. Note: HS6309 covers "worn clothing and other worn articles" — not equivalent to Belofy's TOP 10 product categories.
Source: WITS/UN Comtrade 2025 data (India HS 6309 imports by source country, sum of top reported countries). Total: approx. USD 108.78m / 231.62m kg. Share percentages are calculated from reported import value and may differ slightly from volume-based shares due to price differences between source countries. HS 6309 covers worn clothing and other worn articles — not equivalent to Belofy's sorted garment categories. HSN 63090000 applies to sorted garments; HSN 63109040 applies to hosiery/synthetic rags.
| Source Country | Import Value (USD K) | Share | Volume (kg) | Product Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 49,840.80 | 45.3% | 98,296,000 | USA used clothes vs China sorted bales |
| China | 30,806.68 | 28% | 60,756,909 | second hand clothes wholesale china; China supplier for India |
| Canada | 21,124.58 | 19.2% | 41,661,881 | Canada used clothes / North America used clothes |
| United Kingdom | 2,310.50 | 2.1% | 4,556,768 | used clothes from UK |
| Australia | 1,569.34 | 1.8% | 2,820,540 | Australia used clothes wholesale |
| Italy | 1,442.56 | 1.6% | 13,741,100 | European used clothes / Italy used clothes |
| Germany | 533.59 | 0.6% | 1,808,030 | German used clothes |
| UAE | 415.63 | 0.5% | 4,170,990 | UAE used clothes India |
| South Korea | 334.6 | 0.4% | 906,031 | korean used clothes in india; Korean vs China used clothes |
| France | 231.04 | 0.3% | 2,424,730 | European used clothes |
| Japan | 168.48 | 0.2% | 477,721 | Japanese used clothes; Japan vs China used clothes |
USA used clothes vs China sorted bales
second hand clothes wholesale china; China supplier for India
Canada used clothes / North America used clothes
used clothes from UK
Australia used clothes wholesale
European used clothes / Italy used clothes
German used clothes
UAE used clothes India
korean used clothes in india; Korean vs China used clothes
European used clothes
Japanese used clothes; Japan vs China used clothes
Why Source from China
China vs Other Source Countries — What Indian Importers Should Know
Price Competitiveness
China-origin sorted bales are priced significantly lower than US or Canadian origin. For Indian importers focused on volume, China offers the best cost-per-kg ratio.
Consistent Grading & Sorting
Belofy's factory in Guangdong sorts and grades every bale before export. Indian buyers receive consistent quality — unlike mixed-grade bales from some Western sources.
Direct Factory Supply
No middlemen. Belofy ships directly from our Guangdong factory to Pipavav or Mundra, with full fumigation certificates and ICD Patli clearance documentation.
HSN Compliance & Documentation
Belofy prepares all export documents with the correct HSN code and cargo description for your specific shipment — HSN 63090000 for worn clothing bales, HSN 63109040 for hosiery rags. We have direct India export experience since 2022.
Ready to Import Second Hand Clothes to India?
Contact our India team for a price list, sample bale arrangement, or shipping schedule from Huangpu to Pipavav/Mundra.
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