What’s in scope

• Mats: cotton handloom mats; jute or jute-blend mats; jute/cork/natural-rubber laminated mats; TPE/EVA options (India supplies natural-fiber and hybrid mats especially).
  
• Blocks: EVA/PE foam blocks; cork blocks (agglomerated cork); wooden blocks (e.g., sheesham/mango).
  
• Straps: woven cotton webbing straps with D-ring/slider buckles; some recycled-cotton options.
  

Export & HS snapshot

• Yoga mats are commonly classified as “articles for general physical exercise” under HS/HTS 9506.91 (e.g., U.S. CBP rulings for yoga mats, including cork-rubber mats).
  
  • If marketed as a floor covering (not sports equipment), jute mats can fall under HS 5705 (other carpets/floor coverings) — which is how many jute/rug shipments are declared. (See India trade listings showing yoga mats shipped under 5705 as well.)
    
• Cotton yoga straps are typically shipped as “other made-up textile articles” under HS 6307 (numerous declarations list cotton yoga straps under 6307.90).
  
• Cork blocks are HS 4504 (agglomerated cork & articles).
  
• Foam (EVA/PE) blocks are often classified in plastics headings (e.g., 3926 for articles of plastics); where blocks are part of a “yoga kit,” customs may classify the whole set by the mat under 9506.91 (essential-character rule).

India’s export picture (natural-fiber strengths):

• India is a leading jute powerhouse and exports significant volumes of jute diversified products (JDP) — with jute floor coverings among the top export items. Govt. sources cite overall jute goods exports rising from ₹2,423.84 crore (2019-20) to ₹3,506 crore (2022-23); top JDPs exported include jute floor coverings.
  
• National/official portals note that monthly exports of “jute & floor coverings” touched ~US$49 million in Feb–Mar 2022, underscoring steady external demand for jute mats/rugs.
  
• For textile home products more broadly, India’s clusters (Karur, Panipat, Jaipur, Coimbatore etc.) are established exporters of cotton home textiles (relevant for cotton mats/straps).
  

Practical takeaway for buyers: if you plan to label a jute/cotton piece explicitly as a “yoga mat”, many customs authorities treat it as sports/exercise gear (9506.91). If your product is positioned as a rug/floor covering, plan for 5705. Straps usually fall under 6307; cork blocks under 4504.

Quality, testing & compliance

Standards & tests to cite in tech packs:

• Cotton yoga mats – BIS standard: IS 17873:2022 (with Amd. 1:2025) defines requirements & tests for cotton yoga mats (color fastness, pH, tensile, dimensional stability, etc.). Use this to anchor specs for Indian cotton mats.
  
• Foam performance (EVA/PE blocks or TPE/EVA mats):
  
  • ASTM D3575 for flexible cellular materials (density, compression set, tensile).
    
  • ASTM D1894 for static/kinetic coefficient of friction (grip/anti-slip) on polymer sheets/laminates.
• Textile straps (webbing) strength:
  
  • ASTM D6775 breaking strength & elongation of textile webbing/tape (ideal for yoga straps).
    
  • BIS IS 6488 (Cotton Webbing) offers construction & performance parameters for cotton webbing; BIS notes a 2024 update—handy as a benchmark for strap webbing made in India.
    
• EU chemical safety (where many buyers ship):
  
  • REACH Annex XVII, Entry 50 (PAHs) applies to rubber/plastic components (e.g., TPE/EVA mats, foam blocks). Keep PAHs below the prescribed limits for consumer articles.
    
  • Azo dyes banned in textiles (Entry 43) — specify azo-free dyes for cotton/jute.
    
  • Nickel release (Entry 27) for metal buckles/D-rings on straps — ensure migration ≤0.5 µg/cm²/week.
    
• EU labelling: Reg. (EU) 1007/2011 requires fibre composition labelling for textile products (≥80% textile fibres) — covers cotton/jute mats & straps.
  
• US market watch-outs: California Prop 65 warnings may be triggered by phthalates/metals in plastics, inks, or buckles; many brands choose phthalate-free & lead-free bills of materials to avoid labeling.

Suggested buyer specs (typical target ranges):

• Cotton mat (IS 17873 reference): thickness 4–6 mm; mass per area & tensile as per IS tables; colorfastness to washing/rubbing ≥ grade targets per IS; pH 4–7.5; odour-free.
  
• Jute/natural-rubber mat: total thickness 4–6 mm; peel strength (fabric-to-rubber bond) ≥ 1.0–1.5 N/mm (agree method); grip via ASTM D1894; PAHs per REACH Entry 50 compliant.
  
• EVA/foam block: density 60–120 kg/m³; compression set (D3575 Suffix B) ≤ 10–15%; dimensional tolerances ±1 mm; low VOC odour; PAHs compliant.
  
• Cork block (agglomerated): bulk density 200–300 kg/m³; edges eased (R3–R5); moisture 4–8%; adhesive low-emission; HS 4504.
  
• Cotton strap: width 3.8–4.0 cm; breaking strength ≥ 7–10 kN (spec via ASTM D6775); nickel-safe hardware; azo-free dyes; EU fibre label (100% cotton or % blend).
  

Why source these from India

• Natural-fibre base & clusters:
  
  • Jute: India is a global leader in raw jute/jute goods; jute floor coverings are a major JDP export. Production & MSME capacity are concentrated in West Bengal and the East — exactly the capability needed for jute yoga mats.
    
  • Cotton home-textile clusters: Karur (TN), Panipat (HR), Coimbatore/Jaipur/Ahmedabad supply woven cotton goods and narrow fabrics for straps/cloth mats at export scale.
    
• Standards alignment: India has a BIS standard specifically for cotton yoga mats (IS 17873:2022) — rare among producer countries — making it easier to write specs & audit.
  
• Price & MOQ flexibility: Large handloom/powerloom MSME base supports low-to-mid MOQs with private-label packaging typical for D2C/wellness brands (corroborated by India’s diversified JDP MSME ecosystem under NJB).
  
• Sustainability story: Global buyers are actively switching to biodegradable jute/cotton narratives; official and FAO sources document jute’s biodegradability and carbon benefits — compelling for retail.
  

Sourcing checklist

• Declare HS intent (sports mat vs floor covering) to avoid misclassification. See CBP 9506.91 rulings.
  
• Test plans: reference IS 17873 for cotton mats; ASTM D3575/D1894 for foam grip/blocks; ASTM D6775 for straps.
  
• Chemicals: PAHs (Entry 50), azo dyes (Entry 43), nickel release (Entry 27); ask for 3rd-party lab reports.
  
• EU labels: fibre composition per EU 1007/2011; recycled claims must be truthful.
  
• Hardware: specify nickel-safe D-rings; stitch bar-tacks; inspect buckle pull tests.
  
• Odour/VOC: require low-odour foam/rubber and drying standards (common buyer expectation; not a legal limit).
  

Quick supplier capability map (India)

• Jute mats & jute/rubber laminates: Kolkata–Hooghly belt & Assam MSMEs (backed by NJB/Jute Commissioner ecosystem promoting JDPs including floor coverings).
  
• Cotton mats & straps (woven webbing): Karur/Coimbatore (TN) & Panipat (HR) home-textile clusters; narrow-fabric/webbing units supply strap tapes.
  
• Cork blocks: India typically imports cork and fabricates blocks locally; classify under HS 4504.
  
• Foam blocks: EVA/PE foam converting in Delhi-NCR/Gujarat industrial belts; ensure D3575 performance.