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In this page: Customs procedures for export in India | Organize a transportation of goods to and from India

 

Customs procedures for export in India

Customs Procedures

Restrictions
Certain goods are prohibited or restricted for import and/or export. Among the prohibited goods, there are: narcotic drugs, pornographic and obscene material, counterfeit and pirated goods, antiquities, aero models, chemicals etc.
Export Taxes
No tax.
Exports are also exempt from consumption tax.
Export Clearance
Just as for imports, a company planning to engage in export activities is required to obtain an Import Export Code (IEC) number from the regional joint Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). In addition, the exporter must verify whether an export licence is required, and consequently apply to the DGFT. The exporter must also register with the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), which issues Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin certifying that the exported goods originate in India.

After the receipt of the goods in the dock, the exporter may contact the Customs Officer designated for the purpose and present the checklist with the endorsement of Port Authority and other declarations along with all original documents. Customs Officer may verify the quantity of the goods actually received and thereafter mark the Electronic Shipping Bill and also hand over all original documents to the Dock Appraiser, who may assign a customs officer for the examination of the goods. If the Dock Appraiser is satisfied that the particulars entered in the system conform to the description given in the original documents, he may proceed to allow "let export" for the shipment.

For more information, visit: Indian Customs and Excise Gateway (ICEGATE) and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Necessary Declaration
Businesses are required to submit a set of documents for carrying out export and import activities in India.
The Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020 mandates the following commercial documents for carrying out importing and exporting activities:

  • Bill of lading or airway bill;
  • Commercial invoice cum packing list;
  • Shipping bill or bill of export, or bill of entry (for imports).

Additional documents like certificate of origin and inspection certificate may be required as per the case.

 

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Organize a transportation of goods to and from India

Main Useful Means of Transport
The passenger and freight mobility sectors in India are becoming more efficient and the logistics sector is growing at the CAGR by 10.5% and according to the latest data from NITI Aayog will reach around $215 billion in 2020. Currently, freight transport in India is road-dominated—accounting for 59% of freight movement. 35% of freight demand is met by rail, 6% by waterways and less than 1% by air.

India is strategically located on the world’s shipping routes with a coastline of approximately 7,517 km. Maritime transport handles around 70% of India’s trading in value terms. The cargo traffic at major ports is estimated at 699.55 MT in 2019 and it is expected to growth at 2.9%, according to Invest India.

India's new international status as IT and manufacturing hub has led to the growth of international air traffic. India has 91 international carriers comprising of 5 Indian carriers and 86 foreign carriers, which ensure that India is well connected with most major countries. The total air freight traffic amounts to 3.6 MMT in 2019, according to Invest India.

India has one of the largest road networks in the world, the National Highways (NHs), with a total length of 66 590 km, serve as the arterial network of the country, connecting the State capitals, ports and big cities. The Government of India has given a massive push to infrastructure by allocating about $1.4 Tn for infrastructure to be invested until 2025. The construction of national highways in India was planned for 40 km per day in 2018-19. Road freight transport represents 15% share of GDP on logistics and transportation.

The Indian rail network is spread across 67,368 km (approximately 93,000 running track km) with about 7,300 stations. The Indian Railways transported over 1,221.39MT of freight in 2019, according to Invest India. Indian Railways envisages a prospective investment of $190 bn in the next 5 years.

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By Sea

Ports
Main ports of India
Transport Professionals
Indian Ports Association
Government Transport Organisations
Directorate General of Shipping
 Shipping Corporation of India

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Latest Update: March 2026