Importing Textiles & clothing from India

Textiles & fashion by air freight: when and why

Textiles and clothing mostly ship by sea — sea freight is cheaper and volumes are large. But there are specific situations where air freight is unavoidable or smart:

• Seasonal pressure — If the new collection arrives late from the manufacturer in Asia and the store introduction date is fixed, part of the order goes by air
• Fast fashion replenishment — Fashion companies quickly reorder from suppliers in Bangladesh or Vietnam based on sales data
• High-end or luxury fashion — Where the value per kg is high enough to justify air freight rates
• Sample shipments — Prototypes and samples for showroom or photography — speed is essential

Importing from India

India is a leading producer of pharmaceutical APIs and generic medicines, textiles, precious and semi-precious stones, and IT hardware. The Indian pharma industry supplies hundreds of Dutch and European importers—and air freight is the standard mode for time-sensitive pharmaceutical raw materials.

Specific Points of Attention

• Pharmaceutical APIs require GMP certificates and European registration
• Precious stones and jewelry require detailed valuation statements and proof of insurance
• Textiles may be subject to anti-dumping measures—check the HS code

Aircargo.nl supports importers through European customs clearance of Indian goods and ensures all required certificates are in place.

Points of attention for textiles & clothing

Origin documentation

Textiles have strict origin rules for tariff preferences. The 'double transformation rule' specifies that textiles gain EU origin only if both weaving and confection take place in the EU. Incorrect origin leads to additional charges. Aircargo.nl checks the origin for all textile shipments.

Seasonality

Fashion cargo is highly seasonal. Q4 (October–December) and Q1 (January–March) are peak seasons. Plan air freight in time — during peak periods, capacity on Asia routes is limited and expensive.