Corduroy Fabric Wholesale in China: MOQ, Bulk Pricing & Lead Time (2026 Guide)
“Wholesale corduroy” from China usually means woven and dyed to your order, not off-the-shelf stock — so the price you get depends on cotton cost, weight, wale and dyeing, and the real constraints are minimum per color, dye-lot lead time and shipping terms. This guide breaks down realistic MOQs, how an FOB price is built, the production timeline, and how to compare two quotes honestly, with reference prices from our own Keqiao-region mill.
What “wholesale” actually means for corduroy
Most corduroy is produced against the buyer’s color and construction. A mill takes your swatch or Pantone, makes lab dips, then weaves and reactively dyes the lot. That is why listings rarely show a fixed price: the same 100% cotton corduroy moves with the cotton market, your chosen GSM, and the order quantity.
| Order size (per color) | Where it fits | Typical supplier |
|---|---|---|
| Under ~300 m | Sampling, small capsule runs | Often a trader splitting stock, not a mill |
| 300–1,000 m | Brands, custom colors, multi-color programs | Specialized weaving & finishing mill (flexible mid-tier) |
| 3,000 m+ | Mass / big-box basics | Large integrated mill |
What actually drives the FOB price
- Cotton content & origin. 100% cotton prices track the cotton market; traceable / non-Xinjiang origins for U.S. and EU compliance may carry a premium and must be agreed up front.
- Weight (GSM) and width. Heavier, wider fabric uses more fiber per meter.
- Wale and construction. Wide/elephant wale and stretch builds (2–3% spandex) cost more to weave and finish than a plain fine wale.
- Dyeing and finish. Reactive solid dyeing matched to your swatch, plus any brushing, peaching or special hand-feel.
- Quantity per color. Larger single-color lots spread the dyeing setup cost, so the per-meter price falls as the lot grows.
Reference wholesale prices (our own program)
To make this concrete, here are three running constructions from Shaoxing Mujia Textile, all at a 300 m per color minimum, FOB a China port. Treat them as a reference — request a current quote because prices move with cotton and dye costs.
| Item | Type | Composition | Weight | Usable width | MOQ | FOB ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MJ128 | Fine wale | 100% cotton | 145 GSM | 146 cm | 300 m/color | US $1.98–2.08/m |
| MJ138 | Mid wale, stretch | 97% cotton / 3% spandex | 340 GSM | 150 cm | 300 m/color | US $2.05–2.20/m |
| MJ555 | Wide wale | 100% cotton | 290–300 GSM | 147 cm | 300 m/color | US $2.88–2.98/m |
MOQ and multi-color dye lots
The 300 m minimum applies per color, not to the whole order, so a brand can run several colors in one program at 300 m each. Colors are matched to your swatch or Pantone by reactive dyeing, and lab dips are approved before bulk so there are no surprises on shade. Large integrated mills typically push 3,000 m+ per color, which is overkill — and dead stock risk — for most fashion programs.
The lead-time timeline
| Stage | What happens | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lab dip | Mill dyes small samples to your swatch/Pantone | A few days |
| 2. Approval | You confirm the shade (re-dip if needed) | On you |
| 3. Bulk production | Weaving, reactive dyeing, brushing/finishing, QC | ~10 days after color confirmation |
| 4. Packing & delivery | Roll packing, booking, handover to forwarder FOB | A few days |
Sea freight to your destination is extra and depends on port and season; build the lab-dip approval loop into your schedule, since it is the one stage you control.
Shipping terms and paperwork
- Incoterms: FOB Ningbo or Shanghai is standard for Zhejiang mills; CIF or door-to-door can be arranged on request.
- Packing: rolled on tubes, poly-bagged and clearly marked with item, color and roll length.
- Documents: commercial invoice, packing list and, where needed, certificate of origin and fiber-origin / test reports for U.S./EU compliance.
- Payment: confirm terms and that the license, export entity and bank beneficiary are the same legal company.
How to compare two wholesale quotes honestly
Never compare just the dollar-per-meter number. Line up the quotes on composition, GSM, usable width, dye method, MOQ per color, lead time and Incoterm. A cheaper meter at lower GSM or narrower width can actually cost more per usable square meter, and a quote without FOB port or MOQ is not really comparable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the typical MOQ for wholesale corduroy from China?
Specialized mills commonly accept around 300 m per color; large integrated mills often require 3,000 m or more per color. The minimum applies per color, so multi-color programs can be split into 300 m lots.
How long does bulk corduroy production take?
After the lab dip is approved, weaving, dyeing and finishing typically take about 10 days, plus a few days for packing and FOB delivery. Lab-dip approval and sea freight are the additional, variable parts of the schedule.
How is wholesale corduroy priced?
Per meter on FOB terms, driven mainly by cotton price, GSM, width, wale/stretch construction and dyeing, with a lower unit price on larger single-color lots. Always confirm whether the price is FOB and to which port.
Can I order several custom colors in one bulk order?
Yes. Colors are reactively dyed to your swatch or Pantone and lab dips are approved before bulk; each color just needs to meet the per-color minimum (about 300 m at a specialist mill).
What shipping terms should I expect?
FOB Ningbo or Shanghai is typical for Zhejiang corduroy mills, with roll packing and standard export documents; CIF or door-to-door terms and compliance certificates can be arranged on request.
Planning a wholesale corduroy order?
Send your target construction (wale, GSM, width), colors and per-color quantities. We’ll come back with lab-dip timing, a current FOB quote, MOQ and the production schedule — stated plainly, with the port and terms written down.