What it is
Short-cut polyester fibre made from PTA and MEG (or from recycled PET bottles). Spinners blend it with cotton or viscose; it is also used as filling in pillows, quilts and soft toys.
Virgin and recycled (rPSF)Spinning grade and filling grade (hollow conjugated)Denier and cut-length classes; optical white, raw white and dope-dyed
Where imports come from
Office of the Textile Commissioner estimates total man-made fibre output at 1,987 million kg and man-made filament yarn at 1,702 million kg in 2023-24 (provisional); no separate official figure for this fibre was found.
- China — US$ 45.52 million of imports under HS 550320 in 2025-26.
- Indonesia — US$ 18.77 million of imports under HS 550320 in 2025-26.
- Thailand — US$ 9.2 million of imports under HS 550320 in 2025-26.
Rules before you buy or sell
- The QCOs on polyester fibre and yarn (IS 17263 PSF, IS 17261 FDY, IS 17262 POY, IS 17264 IDY, IS 17265 PSY) were rescinded with effect from 12 November 2025; BIS no longer lists them as compulsory.
- GST on man-made fibres was cut from 18% to 5% and on man-made yarns from 12% to 5% (56th GST Council).
Storage and handling
Keep bales covered and dry; polyester melts and burns, so keep it away from sparks.
Businesses that use it
PET Bottle Recycling (rPET Flakes) →Soft Toys Making →Cotton Mattresses and Pillows →Non-Woven Bag Making →Textile (Fabric Waste) Recycling →
Sources (4)
- TradeStat, Department of Commerce — Commodity-wise all-countries import, HS 550320, 2025-26 (US$ million) · 2026
- Office of the Textile Commissioner — Statistical Note on Textile & Apparel · 2025
- Bureau of Indian Standards — Products under compulsory certification (Scheme-I, ISI mark), with QCO notifications and rescinded orders · 2026
- PIB — Executive Summary: Year End Achievement, Ministry of Textiles · 2025