We recently wrote about an initiative to add hemp to denim for a more sustainable pair of jeans. Now hemp is in the news again, with a landmark deal to provide U.S. grown hemp fibers to India.

Image source: Hemp Gazette

According to Hemp Gazette, U.S.-based Panda Biotech has partnered with Culturewell Trading LLP to introduce industrial hemp fiber from the United States into India’s textile supply chain to help meet the rising global demand for sustainable, traceable, and certified raw materials in textile manufacturing. As of recent 2025–2026 financial data, India’s domestic textile and apparel market is valued between $174 billion and $200 billion, expected to grow to $350 billion by 2030. By comparison, domestic output from U.S. textile mills is about $46 billion. So this agreement not only opens up a new market for U.S. industrial hemp producers; it also makes it easier for more sustainable hemp to play a larger role in global textile manufacturing, especially since India’s textile sector is under pressure to shift towards greener inputs. Hemp shipped under this agreement will have OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 and USDA BioPreferred certifications, which will strengthen trust among manufacturers and global buyers.