Page 3 - Exports

India to pitch for preferential trade pact expansion with Mercosur nations

Mercosur is a Latin American trading bloc, with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay as its members

Best of BS Opinion: India could face trade and investment challenges

Today's opinion page pieces look at the many challenges India faces, from trade, logistics reforms, AI in governance and a demographic time-bomb

Goyal discusses FTAs with industry, exporters ahead of key trade talks

Piyush Goyal meets export councils and industry groups to review trade pacts, gather views on new FTAs and SEZ reforms as India negotiates key global agreements

India's current account swings to $13.5 bn surplus in March quarter: RBI

India's current account balance recorded a surplus of USD 13.5 billion (1.3 per cent of GDP) in January-March quarter of 2024-25 as compared with USD 4.6 billion (0.5 per cent of GDP) in the year-ago period, RBI said on Friday. The current account was in deficit of USD 11.3 billion (1.1 per cent of GDP) in December quarter of 2024-25. On annual basis, India had a current account deficit at USD 23.3 billion (0.6 per cent of GDP) during 2024-25, lower than USD 26 billion (0.7 per cent of GDP) during 2023-24, primarily due to higher net invisibles receipts. Merchandise trade deficit at USD 59.5 billion in Q4:2024-25 was higher than USD 52 billion in Q4:2023-24, according to Reserve Bank's 'Developments in India's Balance of Payments during the Fourth Quarter (January-March) of 2024-25. However, it moderated from USD 79.3 billion in Q3:2024-25. Net services receipts increased to USD 53.3 billion in Q4:2024-25 from USD 42.7 billion a year ago. Services exports have risen on a y-o-y ba

Mobile exports grow 74% in May to record second-highest figures ever

The peak was $3.1 billion in March, when Apple exported more phones to the United States

No sign of panic among Indian exporters; shift to Cape of Good Hope route

Despite Iran-Israel instability, exporters report no disruption in trade as 96 per cent of India's container traffic shifts to the Cape of Good Hope route

US-China trade talks enter day 2 in London amid rare earths, export dispute

US-China trade talks aim to defuse rising tensions over chip exports and critical minerals, revive Geneva truce, and ease strain on global supply chains amid signs of economic stress

Good potential to increase export of leather shoes from India: Bata

Footwear maker Bata sees good potential to boost its exports from India, a top company official said on Monday. "We mainly export leather shoes from India...it's in millions...scope and potential is there (to increase that)," Bata Brands SA CEO Sandeep Kataria said, adding that India will be "our second largest" hub for sourcing. Bata has its main design centre in Italy and over 15 factories across the globe. The company has a design centre in Gurugram (Haryana) in India also and it, along with the Italian team, can design products for emerging markets, he said. On the quality control order for the footwear sector in India, he said it is a good move as it will help set up a quality benchmark. "It can help keep out poor quality (goods)," he added.

India-US trade deal hopes rise but the reliability part remains in doubt

While it is essential that the government do its best to avoid being hit with high tariffs, it should also keep in mind that any deal with the US is subject to the vagaries of its leadership

Equipment 'war-tested' in Op Sindoor, expect exports to rise: DRDO chief

The indigenously developed Akash missile system and Akashteer air defence system were among key military assets deployed by India during the military action with Pakistan

Duty drawback on inputs used in export products shouldn't be denied

There is no bar on applying for advance authorisation under SION or Para 4.07 of HBP while your request for review of the SION under Para 4.06 of the HBP is pending

Chinese smartphone exports to US decline to lowest level since 2011

Investors fear a global trade war that would erode some of the US-China bilateral trade that reached $690 billion in 2024, decimating industries and raising prices for consumers

CDSCO revises export NOC rules for new drugs; sets one-year validity

New CDSCO rules set one-year validity for export NOCs, fix seven-day timeline, and simplify process for unapproved and approved drugs meant solely for export

FTA with UK to help double garment exports to Britain in 3 years: AEPC

The free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK will help double India's ready-made garment exports to Britain in the next three years, AEPC said on Wednesday. Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Chairman Sudhir Sekhri said that against the backdrop of demand contraction in major economies, Russia-Ukraine conflict, Israel-Hamas war, American reciprocal tariff and Chinese belligerence, there was uncertainty and disruption impacting the global trade adversely. "This deal has come as a boon, removing immediately tariff disadvantage of 9.6 per cent and making us competitive in the UK market. Now the Made in India ready-made garment will be cheaper on UK shelves and we will be at par with some of our major competitors who enjoyed duty-free access in the UK market," he said. India is the fourth largest supplier of garments with a 6.1 per cent share of the total RMG import of the UK. The exports to the UK from India grew 7.8 per cent to USD 1.4 billion in 2024-25. "With this deal in place

Commerce ministry plans to extend RoDTEP scheme beyond September 30

The RoDTEP scheme came into effect in 2021 and refunds the embedded non-creditable central, state, and local levies paid on inputs to exporters to boost India's exports

UP aims to triple exports to Rs 5 trn in five years with help of new policy

Uttar Pradesh is working on a policy to promote exports and triple the outbound shipment from the state to over Rs 5 lakh crore in the next five years by tapping new markets and products. To achieve the target, the state government is working on a new export policy for 2025-30 which is expected to be approved soon. The thrust of the new policy would be to increase exports three times by 2030 from Rs 1.7 lakh crore in 2023-24 through host of measures including capital subsidy and sops for exporters, UP Minister for Industrial Development and Export Promotion Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi said. "We have extensively studied export policies of various governments across the country and have incorporated best practices in the draft policy. Our aim is to increase UP's contribution in the country's overall exports substantially and the proposed policy will be a step in that direction," he said. The new policy also seeks to provide sops like capital subsidy to investors for developing export ...

China warns nations not to team up against it to gain US reprieve

The US was the biggest single-country market for Chinese goods before the latest tariffs, but the Chinese government had been working for years to diversify its export markets

Govt defines 'proof of origin' for trade to boost ease of doing business

The government on Monday defined the 'proof of origin' for trade purposes to promote ease of doing business and prevent the possibility of misuse of trade pacts. To seek duty concessions, an importer has to furnish proof or a 'certificate of origin' of a product from the FTA (free trade agreement) partner. According to the circular of the Department of Revenue, proof of origin means a certificate or declaration issued in accordance with a trade agreement certifying that the goods fulfil the country of origin criteria. Certificate of origin is a key document required for exports to those countries with which India has trade agreements. An exporter has to submit the certificate at the landing port of the importing country. The document is important to claim duty concessions under free trade agreements. This certificate is essential to prove where the goods come from. Commenting on the move, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Secretary General Mithileshwar Thakur said the customs

China's sea cargo flow slows after Trump's reciprocal tariffs take effect

China's ports handled 244 million tonnes of cargo last week, 10 per cent less than a week earlier and down 4 per cent from the same week in 2024, according to Ministry of Transport data

Pause on US tariffs a big relief; opens window for trade talks: Exporters

The 90-day deferral of reciprocal tariffs decided by the US has come as a major relief as it provides a crucial window for pushing the talks on the proposed bilateral trade agreement between India and America, exporters said on Thursday. They said that diplomatic engagement and fast-tracking negotiations for the trade pact will help India deal with these tariffs. "It is a good decision by the Trump administration. We have been assured by the commerce ministry that the agreement will be finalised at the earliest," Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President S C Ralhan said. He added that the move reflects a strategic pause aimed at avoiding immediate economic fallout while allowing space for potential resolutions. "A huge relief to our exporters. The 90-day deferral of the reciprocal tariff provides a critical window for diplomatic engagement and trade negotiations," Ralhan added. Welcoming the USA's decision, Mumbai-based exporter S K Saraf said that Indian industry