What changed,
and what to do about it.
A journal about moving cargo into India — market movements, DGFT and customs changes, and the practical consequences for an importer. Short, specific, and sourced.
Freight rates are falling. Your landed cost probably is not.
Ocean rates softened through 2026 on a capacity surplus. Port handling, storage and demurrage in India moved the other way. Here is where the saving went.
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9 postsPre-shipment inspection now applies to steel and aluminium imports
A certificate from a DGFT-empanelled agency, three to five days of lead time and a per-shipment cost. If you import steel or aluminium into Punjab, this one is yours.
RegulationDGFT stopped accepting paper on 1 June 2026
Scheme renewals, EPCG closures, revalidations — all of it now goes through the portal. No physical applications, no email. What to check before you need something.
RegulationLaptops, tablets and servers still need import authorisation
The Import Management System continues through 2026. Application window, validity dates, and why the authorisation expiry is the date that catches people.
MarketIs the Suez back? What the 2026 routing picture actually looks like
Some carriers have resumed transits under escort. Volumes remain far below pre-crisis levels. For an India importer, the practical question is which routing your booking is actually on.
RegulationE-invoicing, the 30-day rule, and why importers get caught
The threshold has come down to five crore. There is also a 30-day upload deadline that is less well known and rejects invoices outright once missed.
RegulationICEGATE 2.0 and the 48-hour clearance target
India is aiming to cut average customs clearance from three or four days to forty-eight hours. Whether you get that depends almost entirely on what you send your broker.
RegulationJewellery went from Free to Restricted overnight. The lesson is not about jewellery.
The notification applied regardless of prior contracts, letters of credit, advance payments or shipment status. That last clause is the one every importer should read.
RegulationThe export obligation window dropped to 12 months
For most sectors the period shortened from eighteen months, and missing it carries interest at fifteen percent on the duty saved. Worth recalculating your position.
OperationsHow to plan a China to India shipment in a buyer's market
Soft rates change what you should ask for, not just what you should pay. A practical sequence for getting the most out of a market that is currently on your side.
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The blog covers what changed. Our knowledge hub covers how it all works — the durable guides on freight modes, documentation and customs process.