India's import of viscose staple fiber has been on the rise in recent years, with a significant jump recorded in the first eleven months of 2022.

The shift in consumption towards viscose was due to the record levels of cotton prices seen in April 2022. During January-November 2022, India's import of viscose stood at $221.348 million, representing a more than 50 percent increase in both value and volume compared to the same period in 2021.

In 2021, India's import of viscose reached a new high of $135.116 million, up from $86.252 million in 2020, indicating a bounce-back from the pandemic slump.

The import of viscose fiber from Indonesia accounted for the highest share of 29.57 percent, followed by Austria at 17.17 percent, Hong Kong at 15.62 percent, China at 10.68 percent, and Singapore at 10.02 percent.

This trend is a clear indication that the Indian textile industry is shifting towards alternative fibers in response to rising cotton prices. It will be interesting to see how this trend continues in the coming years and what impact it will have on the textile industry in India.