How To Export Goods From India: A Step-By-Step Guide (2026)

Key Takeaways

• To export goods from India, you must register your business, get an Importer Exporter Code (IEC) from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), obtain an AD Code from your bank, and complete customs and documentation formalities. This guide explains how to export goods from India step by step.
• Since 2017, your IEC is the same as your business PAN. It has lifetime validity, but you must confirm it on the DGFT portal every year between 1 April and 30 June or it is deactivated.
• The hardest part for most new exporters is not the paperwork but finding real buyers and avoiding risky partners. Trade intelligence tools like yTrade help you find buyers, research demand in target markets, and verify a partner's real trade history before you ship.

How To Export Goods From India?

Learning how to export goods from India starts with four essentials: you register your business, obtain an Importer Exporter Code (IEC) through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), get an AD Code from an authorized bank, and complete customs and banking formalities.

The steps below walk through the full process of how to export from India, from setting up your business to clearing customs and shipping your first order.

Step 1: Set Up Your Business and Legal Registrations

The first stage is setting up a legal identity and a tax setup. Register your company first, then complete the tax registrations that let you claim export benefits.

• Business entity: Register as a Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, LLP, or Private Limited Company, depending on your size and plans.
• PAN card: Obtain a Permanent Account Number for your business entity, since it is the basis for your IEC and tax filings.
• GST registration: Register for Goods and Services Tax to claim export-related tax benefits, or file a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) so you can export without paying tax upfront under the zero-rated rule.

Read more: India Export To China Products List 2026

Step 2: Get Your Mandatory Export Codes

If you are wondering how to apply for export license in India, the IEC is the core registration you need. India does not use a single "export licence" for most goods; the IEC from the DGFT acts as your licence to trade, while a specific licence is only required for restricted items. Two codes are compulsory for almost every exporter: the IEC and the AD Code. A third, the RCMC, depends on your product and the benefits you want to claim.

• Importer Exporter Code (IEC): Apply online on the DGFT portal using your PAN. Since 2017, your IEC is the same as your PAN, it has lifetime validity, and it never needs renewal. You must, however, log in and confirm it on the DGFT portal every year between 1 April and 30 June, or it is deactivated from 1 July.
• Authorized Dealer (AD) Code: Open a current account with an RBI-authorized foreign-exchange bank and obtain a 14-character AD Code. You register this code at each port you ship from, and customs use it to track your foreign-currency payments.
• RCMC: Obtain a Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate from the Export Promotion Council (EPC) or Commodity Board that covers your product. You need it to claim many export incentives and to join council programs.

Step 3: Identify Your Product HS Code and Check Compliance

Before you ask what you can export from India, every product has a code that decides its export rules, so confirm it before you quote a buyer. Getting the code and compliance right early prevents shipments from being held at the port.

• ITC-HS Code: Find the 8-digit Indian Trade Classification code for your product, which tells you whether it is Free, Restricted, or Prohibited for export.
• Destination rules: Check whether your target country needs special import permits, safety standards, or health and phytosanitary certificates, since these vary by product and market.

This is also where market research pays off. Before you commit to a market, it helps to know which countries actually buy your product and in what volume. yTrade lets you check product demand and trade performance across markets using real import and export records, so you target countries where demand is already proven.

Read more: How To Export Eggs From India To Other Countries

Step 4: Find Buyers and Finalize Terms

Finding genuine buyers is the step that decides whether your export business grows, so give it real effort. Once you have a buyer, agree on clear trade and payment terms before anything ships.

• Buyer sourcing: Connect with international buyers through B2B platforms, trade fairs, Export Promotion Councils, and trade data tools that show who is actively importing your product.
• Trade terms: Agree on Incoterms 2020, such as FOB or CIF, so both sides know who pays for freight and insurance. Settle payment terms too, whether a Letter of Credit, advance payment, or bank credit.

Finding buyers is where yTrade saves exporters the most time. Instead of cold emailing a long list, you search real import records and reach importers who already buy products like yours. Here is how yTrade helps you find and qualify buyers:

• See who is importing your product: Search real import records by HS code or product to find companies that actively buy what you sell, in the countries you want to reach.
• Check each buyer's buying history: Look at how often a company imports, in what volume, and from which suppliers, so you approach buyers with proven, steady demand.
• Prioritise the right markets: Compare buyer activity across countries, so you spend your outreach effort where demand is strongest.
• Reach decision-ready contacts: Access importer profiles and contacts, so your first message goes to a real buyer, not a dead inbox.

Use yTrade platform to search for real import records, find verified buyers for your product, and start your outreach with companies that already import. Book a demo now.

Step 5: Handle Packaging, Labeling, and Logistics

Good packaging protects your goods and your reputation, and the right freight choice controls your cost. Plan both before you book a shipment.

• Packaging: Pack goods to international transit standards so they survive handling, humidity, and long transport without damage.
• Freight booking: Hire a freight forwarder to book sea cargo (LCL for small loads, FCL for full containers) or air cargo through major ports like Mundra or JNPT.

Step 6: Clear Customs and Complete Documentation

Customs clearance is where accurate paperwork matters most, since one wrong document can delay a whole shipment. Prepare your documents before the vessel or aircraft is due to leave.

• Commercial Invoice and Packing List: the core documents describing the goods, value, and packing details.
• Bill of Lading or Airway Bill: the transport document issued by your carrier.
• Shipping Bill: the main export document, filed electronically with Indian Customs through ICEGATE.
• Certificate of Origin: proof of where the goods were made, if your buyer or their country requires it.

Once your documents are ready, you file the Shipping Bill at the customs port or ICD, clear inspection, and your goods are approved for loading before departure.

Read more: How to Export Vegetables from India to Other Countries

How Does yTrade Help You Export From India?

When you work out how to export goods from India, three parts cause the most trouble: finding buyers, choosing the right markets, and avoiding risky partners. yTrade is a trade intelligence platform built for exactly those three jobs. It uses real import and export records, so your decisions rest on actual trade activity instead of guesswork.

• Find buyers: Search real import records to see which companies are buying products like yours, in which countries, and how often, then reach out to importers with a proven buying history.
• Research markets for expansion: Check product demand and trade performance across markets, so you can compare where your product sells best and plan expansion with evidence.
• Verify partners before you commit: Check a buyer or supplier's real shipment history and screen them against 650+ sanctions watchlists, so you avoid fake or high-risk partners before money changes hands.

Contact yTrade for a demo of our platform!

Conclusion

Knowing how to export goods from India comes down to six steps: register your business, get your IEC and AD Code, confirm your product's HS code and rules, find buyers and agree on terms, arrange packaging and freight, and clear customs with the right documents.

Once you understand this process, it repeats for every new order and market. The registrations are one-time work, but finding buyers, researching markets, and checking partners never stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first step to export goods from India?

The first step is to register your business and get a PAN, then apply for an Importer Exporter Code (IEC) on the DGFT portal. Since 2017 your IEC is the same as your PAN, and you cannot legally export commercial goods from India without it.

Is an IEC code mandatory for export from India?

Yes, an IEC is mandatory for commercial exports from India, regardless of business size. It is issued by the DGFT, has lifetime validity, and must be confirmed online every year between 1 April and 30 June, or it is deactivated on 1 July.

What documents are required to export from India?

The main export documents are the Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading or Airway Bill, the Shipping Bill filed through ICEGATE, and a Certificate of Origin if the buyer requires it. Customs checks these before clearing your goods for shipment.

How do I apply for an export license in India?

For most goods, how to apply for export license in India simply means getting your IEC: you do not need a separate export licence. You apply for an Importer Exporter Code (IEC) on the DGFT portal using your PAN, which acts as your licence to export. A specific licence is only required for Restricted items listed in the ITC-HS schedule, which you check before shipping.

What can I export from India?

You can export most goods from India, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, engineering products, spices, tea, rice, chemicals, and gems and jewellery. Each product falls under Free, Restricted, or Prohibited status in the ITC-HS schedule, so check your product's classification and any destination-country rules before you sell.