01Trade status and agreements
WTO member; SAFTA, bilateral FTAs with ASEAN, Japan, South Korea. Not in RCEP. EU FTA in negotiation.
Forwarders and shippers need to understand the specific FTA landscape: which preferences apply, which origin documents are accepted. Verify product-by-product on every quote and shipment.
02Customs and import/export specifics
ICEGATE portal, AEO with MRAs to multiple countries, BIS standards, LEO (Let Export Order).
Beyond the systems listed, country-specific requirements on product labelling, technical standards and pre-shipment inspections apply. For B2C flows from the EU into India, correct VAT handling (e.g. IOSS) matters.
03Gateways and connectivity
Main gateways: Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Mundra, Chennai (See); DEL, BOM, MAA (Luft).
Routing depends on volume, origin/destination and service level. Time-critical: airfreight via the main hub; volume cargo: sea via the largest terminal; intra-region: road or road-rail combinations.
04Top trade partners
Main trading partners: USA, China, UAE, Saudi-Arabien, EU. Exact statistics change yearly; up-to-date data is available from Eurostat, UN Comtrade and national statistics offices.