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Corporate Update

DGFT Relaxes Import Rules For Lightweight Synthetic Knitted Fabrics

• By  Textile Excellence
• November 04, 2025

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued Notification No. 46/2025-26, providing targeted relief in the import policy for synthetic knitted fabrics coded under Chapter 60 of the ITC (HS), 2022.

Imports remain categorised as “restricted”, but certain lightweight synthetic knitted fabrics weighing between 28 g/m² and 48 g/m² are now exempt from the Minimum Import Price (MIP) condition of US$ 3.5 per kilogram. This means such fabrics may be freely imported even if the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value falls below the threshold.

Importers holding Advance Authorisation, Export-Oriented Unit (EOU) status or operating in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) continue to enjoy full exemption from the MIP requirement, provided that the imported goods are not sold in the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA). The MIP condition continues to apply to other synthetic knitted fabric HS codes.

The change will help Indian manufacturers of lightweight synthetic knit garments access a broader and more competitively priced supply of fabrics. This may benefit value-added segments such as athleisure and fast-fashion where fabric weight and cost play critical roles in product economics. The Indian textile and apparel industry contributes around 2 % to national GDP and employs over 45 million people, making such policy revisions significant for both growth and competitiveness. 

Imports remain categorised as “restricted”, but certain lightweight synthetic knitted fabrics weighing between 28 g/m² and 48 g/m² are now exempt from the Minimum Import Price (MIP) condition of US$ 3.5 per kilogram. This means such fabrics may be freely imported even if the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value falls below the threshold.