India surpasses China in cotton exports to the United States

12-Mar-2026 12:03 PM

Mumbai. In 2025, India surpassed China to become the United States' leading exporter of cotton products. The latest global market analysis report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that during 2025, US cotton product imports from China declined to around 500,000 tons,

while imports from India increased to around 600,000 tons. Consequently, India became the largest supplier of cotton products to the United States, including textiles, apparel, and other cotton-based products.

According to the USDA report, US companies are attempting to reduce their dependence on Chinese imports, providing a significant opportunity for other supplier countries, including India, to increase their share in the US market.

Interestingly, overall cotton product imports to the United States remained stable at 3.3 million tons in 2025, consistent with the 15-year average, but the volume of imports from different supplier countries varied.

It is noteworthy that during the year 2025, the United States announced several tariff increases on Chinese products, ranging from 10 to 125 percent. Although the United States announced varying levels of tariffs on other countries,

the rates were less than 50 percent (half) of the highest tariff level imposed on Chinese products. Indian products were subject to a maximum customs duty of 50 percent, which has now been reduced to 18 percent.