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India Import & Export Toolkit

Everything an Indian exporter, importer or CHA needs to price a shipment: LC cost in INR on ACT/365 basis, IGST + BCD + SWS landed cost, ITC(HS) classification and Incoterms 2020 risk transfer.

Currency
INR (Indian Rupee)
IGST on imports
5% / 12% / 18% / 28%
Charged on assessable value + BCD + SWS. Compensation cess applies to select goods (autos, tobacco, coal).
Duty regime
Basic Customs Duty (BCD) + Social Welfare Surcharge (10% of BCD) + IGST + AIDC where applicable. Preferential rates under India-UAE CEPA, India-Australia ECTA, ASEAN, SAFTA and APTA.
Regulatory deep-dive
India import & export regulations →
India import/export rules: FTP 2023, DGFT IEC, ICEGATE customs, BIS mandatory registration, RBI FEMA payment terms, SCOMET dual-use controls.
Authorities · Licensing · Sanctions
Also see compare India vs other markets →

Free calculators for India trade

LC Cost Calculator →
All-in bank charges on a Letter of Credit.
Usance LC Interest →
Deferred payment cost with correct ACT/360 or ACT/365 basis.
Import Duty & Tax →
Duty, VAT/GST and landed cost per HS code.
Landed Cost by HS & Country →
Interactive duty + VAT/GST + Incoterm split for this destination.
CIF ↔ FOB Converter →
Convert between CIF, FOB and landed cost.
HS Code Lookup →
Search harmonised classification codes.
CBM & Container →
Volume, weight and container utilisation.
Incoterms 2020 Visualiser →
Cost, risk and document split across all 11 rules.
Multi-Currency Invoice →
FX spread and cross-currency invoice value.
Major ports & gateways
  • · Jawaharlal Nehru (JNPT / Nhava Sheva)
  • · Mundra
  • · Chennai
  • · Kolkata / Haldia
  • · Cochin
  • · Visakhapatnam
  • · Kandla
Top exports
  • · Refined petroleum
  • · Pearls & gems
  • · Pharmaceuticals
  • · Rice (basmati & non-basmati)
  • · Iron & steel
  • · Textiles & garments
  • · Engineering goods
Top imports
  • · Crude petroleum
  • · Gold
  • · Coal
  • · Electronics & mobile phones
  • · Machinery
  • · Edible oils (palm, soyabean)
  • · Fertilisers

Trade finance in India

  • · LC currency in INR uses ACT/365 day-count for usance interest calculations - not ACT/360. Our Usance LC Interest Calculator applies this automatically.
  • · Indian banks typically quote 0.15-0.25% per quarter for LC issuance, plus GST @ 18% on the fee (not the LC amount). Confirmation from a G7 bank usually adds 0.20-0.50% per quarter.
  • · Buyer's Credit / Suppliers' Credit for capital goods imports is regulated under RBI Master Direction on External Commercial Borrowings (ECB). All-in cost ceilings apply.
  • · Advance Authorisation, EPCG and MEIS/RoDTEP schemes affect duty and IGST liability - factor them into landed cost before quoting.

Customs & duty in India

  • · India uses the ITC(HS) - 8-digit codes based on the 6-digit WCO HS heading. First 6 digits align globally; digits 7-8 are India-specific.
  • · Customs valuation follows the Customs Valuation (Determination of Value of Imported Goods) Rules, 2007 - broadly WTO transaction value with adjustments.
  • · SWS (Social Welfare Surcharge) is 10% of BCD (0% on many petroleum/gold lines). Health cess of 5% applies to specific medical devices.
  • · Assessable value = CIF + 1% landing charges (this 1% add-on was removed post-2017 for most goods but persists in specific tariff lines - verify per HS).

Incoterms 2020 practice in India

  • · Most Indian exports move on FOB or CIF. Container cargo should use FCA or CIP - not FOB or CIF - to match the point of physical delivery at CFS/ICD.
  • · DDP into India is rarely practical because the seller cannot easily register as an importer of record for IGST recovery. Use DAP instead.

HS commodity guides for India

Classification, duty and worked landed-cost examples for the commodity families most active on India's trade lanes.

HS 61 & 62Consumer goods
HS Code for Textiles & Apparel (Chapters 61 and 62) into India →
HS 85Electronics
HS Code for Electronics (Chapter 85) into India →
HS 84Industrial
HS Code for Industrial Machinery (Chapter 84) into India →
HS 30Regulated
HS Code for Pharmaceuticals (Chapter 30) into India →
HS 72Metals
HS Code for Iron & Steel (Chapter 72) into India →
HS 1006Agricultural
HS Code for Rice (HS 1006) into India →
HS 2709Energy
HS Code for Crude Oil (HS 2709) into India →
HS 2710Energy
HS Code for Petroleum Products (HS 2710) into India →

Every HS commodity landed-cost page for India

Direct link to the India import guide for each HS commodity we publish.

Commodities linked to India

India appears in the trade lanes for the commodities below. Each hub covers grades, specs, benchmark pricing and HS code references.

Aluminium →
Top exporter
HS 7601 · Hindalco, Vedanta, NALCO
Copper →
Top importer
HS 7403 (refined), 7404 (scrap), 2603 (concentrate)
Petroleum Coke (Petcoke) →
Exporter & importer
HS 2713 · Reliance Jamnagar; largest single-site producer
Sulphur →
Top importer
HS 2503
Thermal & Coking Coal →
Top importer
HS 2701

India's key trading partners

United Arab Emirates toolkit →
VAT · 5% standard
Singapore toolkit →
GST · 9% standard (from 2024)
China toolkit →
Import VAT · 13% standard, 9% reduced, 6% services
United States toolkit →
No federal VAT / GST · 0% federal
Saudi Arabia toolkit →
VAT · 15% standard (from July 2020)
Netherlands toolkit →
BTW (VAT) · 21% standard, 9% reduced

Frequently asked questions

How is import duty calculated in India?

Assessable Value (typically CIF) → BCD applied → Social Welfare Surcharge (10% of BCD) → IGST @ 5/12/18/28% on (AV + BCD + SWS) → Compensation Cess if applicable. Use our Import Duty Calculator with the 'India' preset.

What is the day-count convention for INR usance LCs?

ACT/365. So a 90-day usance LC at 8% p.a. on INR 10,000,000 accrues interest of 10,000,000 × 8% × 90/365 = INR 197,260. Our Usance LC Interest Calculator applies this automatically for INR.

Do I need an IEC code to import into India?

Yes. An Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) from DGFT is mandatory for any commercial import or export. Individuals can now use PAN as IEC. Personal-use imports below prescribed limits are exempt.

Which HS code system does India use?

ITC(HS) - an 8-digit extension of the 6-digit WCO HS. The Indian tariff schedule adds 2 country-specific digits for national duty differentiation.

Country data compiled from WCO HS, WTO tariff schedules, national customs authorities and central banks. Duty, tax and regulatory information is decision-support only - always confirm with a licensed customs broker or your bank before acting.