Finished leather ,raw leather, canvas fabric, metal fittings, bag fittings, belt buckles, textile, cloth, cotton lining, bag lining, eva sheet etc
Agricultural products, heavy machinery, bales, second cloths, shoes, & bags, fresh fruits & vegetables, new & used shipping containers, livestock, agro products, animal feed and agro machineries & commodities, agro products like dry nuts, grains, pulses, rice, oil seeds, sugar, cattle feeds
Stocklots baby diaper, adult diaper, sanitary pad, shoes, cosmetics, socks, garments, mask kf94, used clothing, used shoes, used army boots
Construction equipment, used caterpillar bulldozer, caterpillar bulldozer, front loader construction equipment, mining front end loader, used hyundai h ex r 210 excavator, hyundai h ex r 210 excavator, used construction equipment
Plastic Granual, Scrap, Used Cloths, Fabrics, Garments, Machinery
Copper, metal, aluminium, zinc, ferrous and non ferrous, sand, coal, charcoal, wood, fly ash, used clothes, paper, plastic etc.
Medical products and equipments, personal care products, cosmetic cotton swabs, cotton buds for baby use, paper stick cotton buds, plastic stick cotton buds, wooden stick cotton buds, cosmetic cotton pads, cotton balls, bamboo toothpick and other hygienic products
Carpet brush, toilet brush, shoe brush, water brush, clothes brush, broom, dustpan
Nitrile gloves, N95 mask, KN95 mask, KF94 mask, 3 ply mask, syringes, used clothes
Coal tar, coal tar pitch, light hydrocarbon solvent, fuel oil, ldo, used benzene
Woman clothes, kids clothes, man shirt, blouse, lady dress, pant, jacket, down jumper, jean coat
Genuine leather, pu fabrics, pvc coated fabrics, metal fittings for bags, cloth linings
T shirts, sportswear, jerseys, leggings, polyester lycra, shorts, track pants, tracksuits, singlets, polo shirt, 3/4th, sublimated clothing
Leather kit ,pearl jewellery,clothing
3m1860, 3m9332+, nitrile gloves, goggle, gowns, 3ply masks, civil use masks with ean, kn95 masks, n95 masks
Mutilated Rags, Used Cloth, Cotton Acrylic, Wool Body,Mutilated Rags,Second hand clothing,Used clothes,Used clothing
Men garments, clothing, ladies wear, men's wear, polo shirts, sportswear
- Medical: 3M Particulate respirator N95 1860 & 8210, KN95 Respirator, Single use mask, COVID-19 test-kit, Ventilator.
- Metals & Minerals: Iron Ore Magnetite > 62%, Manganese Ore 40- 45%, HMS 1, HMS Ship Scrap
- Oil And Petroleum: Diesel Gasoil, Jet Fuel A1, AVGAS 100LL
Hand made fashion accessories for garments like hand embroidered badges, patches, emblems and trimmings for some of the well known brands such as ralph lauren, coach, burberry, faconnable, dolce &gabana etc.
badges for schools, clubs, colleges, churches and also for armed forces embroidery on various parts of the garments
ladies handbags, purses, clutch bags, tote bags and pouches etc. with/without embroidery on various type of fabrics, leather etc.
ladies sandals & bellies etc., using hand embroidered uppers
scarves and stoles with hand embroidery
hand embroidered jewish religious items like attarahs, challah covers, talit/tfilin bags sets, holy torah closet covers etc.
hand embroidered christmas hangings for decoration purpose.
tassels & tie back etc.
Used laptops, used workstations, used it products (laptops, pc's, workstations, servers, mobile phones, components)
The old clothes market is rapidly growing due to the changing lifestyle of consumers and the demand for sustainable lifestyles, and is shifting the consumer focus towards reuse, recycling, and repair. Exporting old or second-hand clothes is on the rise, especially in countries with abundant textile waste and access to quality check facilities. These old clothes can include formal wear, casual wear, shoes, bags, etc.
There are plenty of dedicated markets, showrooms, export houses, and shops that sell old clothes. India leads the market in terms of importing old clothes, followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the United States.
The demand for old or second-hand clothes is high in low to middle-income countries. While finance or income is not the only reason consumers prefer old or second-hand clothes, the rising consciousness of the green environment and sustainability are also contributing factors. Many fashion brands or independent designers have started using old clothes or textile waste material to repurpose the clothes and sell them in the market, which also makes it a great opportunity for old clothes exporters to find the right and relevant old clothes buyers.
The global market outlook for used, old, or second-hand clothes is rapidly increasing. The global market insights are below:
Global Market
HSN Code: 63090000
Global Market Size 2023: US$ $45.3 billion
Expected Market Size 2032: US$ $1266 billion
India Market
Market Size 2023: US$ $3 billion
Expected Size 2032: US$ $9 billion
CAGR: 13.04%
The old clothes business is growing and is expected to have profit margins of 40%-80%, which is an excellent opportunity for exporters. Several other reasons make this a profitable business:
Huge Buyer Base: There is a vast network of importers, wholesalers, distributors, and shops in developing countries. Especially, India has a huge network of wholesale markets for old clothes like Gandhi Nagar market, Chandni Chowk, Chikpet, etc.
Environmental Consciousness in Consumers: Due to the rising trend in consumer preference for sustainable products and practices, businesses are investing in exports and imports of old clothes, which reduces textile waste in landfills.
Low Procurement Cost: The cost of sourcing is next to negligible, are the old clothes are collected through donation centers, thrift stores, export houses, recycling drives, etc.
High Margins: Even after sorting, packing, and transportation costs, exporters can expect huge margins.
There are various methods to find verified old clothes buyers
B2B marketplaces like go4WorldBusiness
Search for buyers on LinkedIn or database companies
Attend trade shows and expo fairs
Exporting old clothes is a booming business and if you are a beginner in this industry, it is a great potential business opportunity. With the technology being in the forefront and the advent of artificial intelligence, selling or exporting old, used, or secondhand clothes online, has become much easier. One may easily rely on B2B marketplaces to find old or used clothes buyers online and continue trading relations with them.
1. Which countries are the top 5 importers of old clothes?
The top five importers along with their shipment count, are:
2. What are the most traded types of old clothes?
3. What documents are required for exporting old clothes?
There are some essential documents required for exporting old clothes if you are new to the market:
4. How to ensure quality before exporting old clothes?
It is important to ensure the quality and grade of old clothes before exporting:
Sort and Grade: Sort the garments and grade them according to the quality and defects of the garment piece. Categorize them into Grade A, B & C based on their condition.
Obtain EIA Certificate: Obtaining an export inspection agency certificate will ensure all international compliance standards are met.
Packaging and Labelling: Ensure proper packaging to avoid any further damage to the products and label the content accurately.
Choose a reliable shipment partner: It is important to choose a reliable shipping partner to ensure smooth transportation to avoid damage of the product, timely delivery, etc.
