Regulations, news, guides & documentation — everything an exporter or importer needs.
From 1 Nov 2026, CBIC Notification No. 03/2026-Central Tax (26 Oct) commences Sections 153-155 of the Finance Act 2026: 90% provisional refunds extend to inverted-duty-structure claims, the ₹1,000 minimum refund floor is removed for IGST-paid goods exports, and post-sale discount/credit-note rules are eased.
India's DGTR has recommended continuing the anti-dumping duty — reported at about USD 268/MT — on seamless steel pipes, tubes and hollow profiles from China for a further five years, following a sunset review. The current duty is set to lapse on 27 January 2027; a CBIC notification would make the continuation binding.
Public Notice No. 126/2026 from JNCH (Nhava Sheva), dated 7 Oct 2026, confirms that exports under the Duty-Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) scheme are not eligible for RoDTEP, and directs exporters who wrongly availed the benefit (Mar 2024–Sep 2026) to repay it with any applicable interest within 30 days. Affected IECs must act now.
DGFT Trade Notice No. 31/2026-27 (21 Oct 2026) advises Indian exporters, EPCs, banks and ECGC to exercise heightened caution and due diligence in dealings with M/s Julfikar Fashions Ltd (Bangladesh) after an unresolved quality/trade dispute. It is a precaution, not a ban — the firm is not on any prohibited list.
Beyond the electrical-appliances QCO, several other BIS Quality Control Orders became mandatory in October 2026 — hand tools (wrenches, spanners, pliers), wrought-aluminium utensils, aluminium beverage cans, and HDPE/PP woven and laminated sacks. From 1 and 6 Oct 2026, covered goods need BIS certification and the ISI mark to be imported or sold in India.
India's merchandise exports rose 23.04% year-on-year to US$44.40 billion in September 2026, with the merchandise trade deficit narrowing to US$30.21 billion from US$33 billion a year earlier (data released 15 Oct 2026). Overall exports (goods + services) hit a record Q2, giving exporters a strong read-through on demand.
CBIC Circular No. 263/09/2026-GST (26 Oct 2026) clarifies that export-of-services payments received in repatriable rupee accounts (SNRR/NRE), export-import set-offs permitted by RBI, and a reinsurance broker's net retention all satisfy the 'realisation in convertible forex' condition for zero-rated treatment. It also confirms Rule 96B realisation tracking for goods exporters.
DGFT Trade Notice No. 32/2026-27 (26 Oct 2026) removes the UIN/declaration-of-intent step for export factoring support under the Export Promotion Mission — exporters are now identified only by IEC — and lets eligible MSME exporters claim both export-factoring support and interest subvention, with anti-duplication safeguards.
DGFT Public Notice No. 36/2026-27 (23 Oct 2026) adds four new Standard Input Output Norms (A-3715 to A-3718) for exports of Doxycycline tablets and Clobetasol Propionate, fixing the duty-free input quantities. The norms let Regional Authorities issue Advance Authorisations faster and more uniformly for these pharma exports.
CBIC Notification No. 26/2026-Customs (ADD), dated 24 Oct 2026, imposes anti-dumping duty of USD 460–681 per MT on titanium dioxide from China for five years. Producer-specific rates apply only with a valid manufacturer declaration on the invoice; several end uses (food, pharma coatings, cosmetics, nano TiO2) are excluded. Importers must budget the duty and verify eligibility.
India's Interest Subvention Scheme under the Export Promotion Mission gives MSME exporters 2.75% p.a. off pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit, capped at ₹50 lakh a year. EXIM Bank is now the implementing agency (DGFT Trade Notice 17/2026-27). A practical guide as RoDTEP nears its 30 Sept cut-off.
A beginner's FAQ for first-time exporters from India, answering the 20 most common questions — from IEC, AD Code and RCMC registration to HS codes, export documents, Incoterms, GST and LUT, payment security, RoDTEP claims, finding buyers, and the mistakes that cost new exporters money.
A practical walkthrough of the import customs clearance process in India — from advance Bill of Entry filing on ICEGATE through assessment, examination, duty payment, and Out of Charge, plus common delays and how to avoid them.
A plain-English guide to the Importer Exporter Code (IEC) — what it is, why it's mandatory for exporters in India, who needs it, the documents and ₹500 fee, how to apply on the DGFT portal, and the mandatory annual updation that keeps it active in 2026.