While the country's mask-making industry is relatively small, it's expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Globally, the habit of wearing masks is catching on and India is set to become the leading supplier of medical masks in the future. In Europe alone, demand for medical masks is estimated to be at least $150 million pieces per month. Each buyer determines what type and model of masks they'll need each month. In addition to India, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Brazil are major suppliers of surgical masks.

While India is the largest supplier of masks, it's not the only one. Earlier, the government banned the export of medical textiles to foreign countries. In February, the DGFT implemented a moratorium on the export of N95 surgical masks, 2/3 ply surgical masks, medical coveralls, and face-covers. On Tuesday, DGFT amended the export policy from 'free' to 'free'. As a result, all medical textiles are now available to the global market.

With the emergence of more healthcare products and the emergence of the mask industry in India, the country has seen a huge increase in the number of mask suppliers. The DGFT has also removed several export restrictions on the export of medical textiles and has now allowed the export of N-95/FFP2 face-masks. The DGFT's amended policy means that manufacturers can now sell these masks in all of these countries.