India has emerged as the largest supplier of cotton products to the United States in 2025, overtaking China for the first time in recent years, according to the latest Cotton: World Markets and Trade report released by the United States Department of Agriculture.
The report provides a comprehensive overview of global cotton trade and documents notable shifts in supplier rankings within the US market. It states that total US imports of cotton products—including apparel and home textiles—reached approximately 3.3 million metric tonnes in 2025.
Of this total, India supplied around 0.6 million tonnes, slightly ahead of China’s estimated 0.5 million tonnes, positioning India as the leading supplier by volume. Other countries—including Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan, Mexico and Cambodia—also accounted for significant shipments, though their individual export volumes remained below those of India.
According to the USDA analysis, India’s vertically integrated textile industry, which spans raw cotton processing, spinning, weaving, garment manufacturing and the production of finished home textiles, has supported the country’s capacity to deliver large volumes to international markets. The report notes that India also benefits from a substantial domestic cotton cultivation base, established export infrastructure and logistics systems capable of supporting consistent deliveries to the United States.
The USDA report indicates that changes in supplier shares were influenced by evolving sourcing strategies adopted by US importers. While India’s shipments increased during the year, China’s share declined compared with previous years. The shift was recorded across several product categories, reflecting broader adjustments in global cotton trade flows.
The report further notes that exporters such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan, Mexico and Cambodia continued to play an important role in supplying cotton apparel and home textiles to the US market. Several of these suppliers maintained or marginally increased their market shares during 2025.
Overall, the USDA analysis documents a significant realignment in global cotton product trade, with India supplying the largest volume of cotton-based goods to the United States in 2025, surpassing China and reflecting changing sourcing patterns, production capabilities and export capacities across key textile-producing countries.
