Regional guide · United States
SourcingfromIndiaforUSAbuyers
The United States is our largest export market — approximately 40% of shipments from our supplier network head to US warehouses. Buyers span the full range: mass-market retail (Target, Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond), specialty retail (Anthropologie, West Elm, Terrain), premium retail (Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, ABC Home), DTC brands (Wayfair, Etsy sellers, Amazon FBA operators) and hospitality (Marriott, Hilton, boutique hotel groups). This page is the practical operational playbook for US buyers running programmes from India.
United States
Los Angeles / Long Beach · New York / Newark · Savannah · Houston
India (Mundra · Nhava Sheva)
Buying agent · QC · Consolidation
Why US buyers source home décor and handicrafts from India
Three factors position India distinctively for US buyers: tariff advantage over China (India retains GSP treatment on most home décor and textile categories, meaning 7-25% lower landed cost than Chinese equivalents post-Section-301 tariffs); craft cluster depth (400+ years of continuous artisan tradition in brass, marble, wood carving, textile weaving and glass — no US retailer sourcing from Vietnam or Mexico can match this narrative on retail shelf); and small-batch economics (India's cluster structure supports MOQ of 100-500 per SKU where Chinese factories require 5,000+).
The China-plus-one strategy is now standard operating procedure at every major US retailer. India has been the primary beneficiary in home décor, furniture, textile, leather, handicrafts and specialty consumer goods — the exact categories our supplier network specialises in.
US-specific compliance and certifications
FDA compliance (21 CFR Part 175/177) for food-contact SKUs: cookware, tableware, serveware. Every food-contact product ships with SGS or Intertek migration certification. California Prop-65 compliance for consumer products sold in California — lead, cadmium, phthalate declarations on every SKU. FTC country-of-origin labelling per 16 CFR Part 300. FCC declarations on electronics-adjacent SKUs.
For children's-facing products: CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) compliance including third-party lab testing per 16 CFR Part 1500. Every batch is CPSC-compliance certified with third-party lab documentation. Amazon-marketplace sellers additionally require FBA-compliant labelling (FNSKU, suffocation warnings, category-specific compliance).
Freight, ports and logistics — India to USA
Q1 2026 sea freight rates: India → US East Coast (New York, Savannah, Norfolk) $2,800-$3,400 per 40-ft container; India → US West Coast (LA/Long Beach, Oakland) $2,200-$2,800. Typical transit time: 30-35 days East Coast via Suez; 24-28 days West Coast via Pacific. Peak-season surcharges (August-November) add 20-30%.
Mundra (Gujarat) is our default origin port for programmes shipping to US West Coast — faster inland trucking from Delhi consolidation hub (18-24 hours vs 36-42 to Nhava Sheva). For US East Coast programmes, both Mundra and Nhava Sheva work; port choice depends on shipping-line service preference. LCL consolidation to LA/LB and NY/NJ available for programmes below 20-24 CBM.
Payment terms and financial standards for US buyers
Standard terms: 30% advance TT at PO confirmation, 70% balance against shipping documents (DP — Documents against Payment — or LC — Letter of Credit). US buyers occasionally structure through import LC facilities with domestic banks (Chase, BofA, HSBC) for larger programmes. Open-account 30-60 day terms are earned over multi-programme relationships with proven suppliers.
For US buyers hedging INR-USD exposure, forward-currency-contracts through your US bank are worth exploring on programmes running $500K+ annually. Our operations team can co-ordinate with your CFO's team on currency-hedging protocols. FCA (Free Carrier) and FOB (Free On Board) INCOTERMS are our defaults; ex-works pricing available for buyers running their own consolidation.
What our US customers typically source
By volume, our largest US programmes are: hand-knotted and hand-tufted rugs (Bhadohi/Panipat); brass and copper décor (Moradabad); solid-wood furniture (Jodhpur); pashmina and cashmere shawls (Kashmir); block-print soft furnishing (Jaipur); glassware (Firozabad); and marble handicrafts (Agra). Christmas and holiday décor programmes are Q1-Q2 development for peak Q3-Q4 shipment.
For US-first buyers considering India sourcing: our recommended playbook is (1) start with one category and one cluster; (2) plan a 5-day India visit within the first 90 days (Delhi + relevant cluster); (3) engage buying-agent representation on the ground rather than direct-import; (4) set a 3-year target of 30-50% India share within your category. Use the enquiry form below or email hello@asiasourcing.co.in for a US-specific sourcing brief.
Frequently asked · United States
United States buyer questions
What is the tariff advantage of sourcing from India vs China for US buyers?
India retains GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) treatment on most home décor and textile categories. Chinese equivalents typically face 7.5-25% Section-301 tariffs. Net landed-cost advantage runs 8-15% in India's favour on the categories India strongly serves.
Which US ports do you ship to from India?
All major US container ports: LA/Long Beach and Oakland (West Coast, 24-28 day transit), New York/Newark, Savannah, Norfolk, Charleston (East Coast, 30-35 day transit via Suez), plus Houston (Gulf Coast). Mundra is our default origin; Nhava Sheva secondary.
Do your Indian suppliers meet FDA, Prop-65 and CPSIA compliance?
Yes. Food-contact SKUs ship with FDA 21 CFR Part 177 migration certification (SGS/Intertek). Prop-65 heavy-metal panels are standard on California-destined product. CPSIA testing per 16 CFR Part 1500 for children's-facing SKUs. All documentation included in shipping paperwork.
What payment terms do you offer US buyers?
Standard is 30% advance TT + 70% against shipping documents (DP or LC). Open-account 30-60 days is earned over multi-programme relationships. LC through US banks (Chase, BofA, HSBC) is common on $500K+ annual programmes for currency-hedged buyers.
Can I visit your India office and factories from the US?
Yes. We host US buyers routinely — Delhi office visits plus 2-4 factory tours per day in the relevant clusters (Moradabad, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Panipat, Bhadohi, Kashmir). Typical visit is 5 days. Most US airlines fly direct to Delhi (Air India, United, Delta). Book 4-6 weeks in advance.
What is the freight cost from India to USA in 2026?
Q1 2026: 40-ft container to US East Coast $2,800-$3,400. To US West Coast $2,200-$2,800. Peak-season (Aug-Nov) adds 20-30%. LCL consolidation available for programmes below 20-24 CBM at $170-$220/CBM East Coast.
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