India Trade & Customs Updates: Key Changes Issued Between 29 June and 1 July 2026

The latest notifications and trade notices issued by CBIC and DGFT bring important updates for shipping lines, customs brokers, importers, exporters, MSMEs, and trade participants.

From Pan-India SCMTR implementation to revised tariff values, export support amendments, and import-policy relaxations, here are the key developments businesses should note.

SCMTR Moves Towards Full Pan-India Implementation

CBIC has confirmed through Circular No. 29/2026-Customs that key Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations (SCMTR) message flows are now operational across India.

Arrival-related messages, departure messages, and export transhipment messages have been implemented nationwide. Import Transhipment (ITP) message development remains pending.

Stakeholders such as shipping lines, authorised sea carriers, agents, terminal operators, custodians, and transhippers are expected to file the prescribed SCMTR messages electronically from 1 July 2026.

To support a smooth transition, CBIC has extended the transitional provisions until 31 August 2026 through Notification No. 61/2026-Customs (N.T.). No penal action will be initiated for genuine technical or procedural difficulties faced during this period.

Revised Customs Tariff Values

CBIC has revised tariff values for select imported goods through Notification No. 59/2026-Customs (N.T.) and Notification No. 60/2026-Customs (N.T.).

The latest notified values include:

Commodity	Revised Tariff Value
Crude Palm Oil	USD 1,190 per MT
RBD Palm Oil	USD 1,197 per MT
Crude Palmolein	USD 1,217 per MT
RBD Palmolein	USD 1,220 per MT
Crude Soya Bean Oil	USD 1,260 per MT
Brass Scrap	USD 7,763 per MT
Gold	USD 1,297 per 10 grams
Silver	USD 1,875 per kg
Areca Nuts	USD 10,785 per MT

Importers dealing in these commodities should review their customs valuation and duty calculations accordingly.

TRACE Support Expanded Under Niryat Disha

DGFT has amended the Trade Regulations, Accreditation and Compliance Enablement guidelines under Export Promotion Mission – Niryat Disha through Trade Notice No. 09/2026-27.

The financial support structure has been revised based on MSME classification. Micro and Small Enterprises can receive up to 95% of the actual eligible cost, while Medium Enterprises can receive up to 80%.

The maximum cumulative reimbursement has increased to ₹50 lakh per IEC per financial year. Cases requiring support beyond ₹50 lakh may be examined individually by the Sub-Committee.

The support will now be released in two instalments. The first 50% will be paid after successful completion of certification, while the remaining amount will be released after submission of export evidence linked to that certification.

DGFT has also expanded the list of eligible testing, inspections, and certifications to 462 entries, covering multiple international markets and product sectors.

Market Access Support Guidelines Updated

DGFT has updated the Market Access Support guidelines under Niryat Disha through Trade Notice No. 08/2026-27.

The recommended minimum delegation size for Business-to-Business meetings has been reduced from 50 participants to 25 participants.

The notice also introduces a refund requirement for cancelled events or withdrawals. Any advance grant received must be refunded within 15 days. Delayed refunds will attract simple interest at 10% per annum.

Wheat Flour Export Quota Review and Reallocation

DGFT has initiated a review and reallocation of allocated export quota for wheat flour and related products through Trade Notice No. 08/2026-27 dated 1 July 2026.

Exporters holding authorisations must submit a Chartered Accountant-certified utilisation certificate for quantities exported until 30 June 2026. They must also provide details of additional requirements or surrender any unutilised allocation, supported by valid export contracts or purchase orders.

Applications must be submitted by 10 July 2026. Exporters that have utilised more than 50% of their allocated quantity may be considered for further allocation. Unutilised quotas from exporters with less than 50% utilisation may be moved to the common pool for reallocation.

India-UAE CEPA Gold TRQ Validity Extended

DGFT has extended the validity of Tariff Rate Quota authorisations for import of gold under India-UAE CEPA through Notification No. 21/2026-27.

Authorisations issued during FY 2025-26 will now remain valid until 30 September 2026, instead of 30 June 2026.

The extension is automatic, with no separate application, amendment, endorsement, or composition fee required.

RELIEF Scheme Timeline Extended

DGFT has extended the eligibility period under Component II of the Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation intervention through Public Notice / Notification No. 21/2026-27.

The eligibility period has been extended until 30 September 2026 for shipments meant for delivery or transhipment under the intervention. This is intended to support Indian exporters affected by logistics challenges arising from the continuing West Asia crisis.

NFIMIS Registration Can Now Be Taken Before Final Customs Clearance

DGFT has amended the import-policy provisions for copper and aluminium under the Non-Ferrous Metal Import Monitoring System through Notification No. 22/2026-27.

Earlier, import registration had to be completed before arrival of the consignment. Importers can now obtain registration any time before final customs clearance or issuance of the Out of Charge order.

The registration can still be applied for up to 60 days before the expected date of arrival and remains valid for 75 days. This change is expected to ease compliance and support smoother cargo clearance.

Customs Notification Timeline Extended

The Ministry of Finance has extended the date prescribed under Notification No. 12/2026-Customs through Notification No. 22/2026-Customs.

The earlier deadline of 30 June 2026 has been extended to 15 July 2026. Businesses relying on the underlying customs benefit should review the revised deadline and complete applicable actions within the extended period.

Central Excise Amendments

The Ministry of Finance has issued multiple Central Excise amendments.

Through Notification No. 34/2026-Central Excise and Notification No. 35/2026-Central Excise, the scope of the relevant notifications has been expanded by adding Maldives and Mauritius to the existing list of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Through Notification No. 36/2026-Central Excise, specified duty entries have been revised to ₹4 per litre and ₹8.5 per litre.

Through Notification No. 37/2026-Central Excise, another specified duty entry has been revised to ₹7.5 per litre.

These revised rates are effective from 1 July 2026.

Drawback and Refund Against Duty Credit Scrips

CBIC has clarified the treatment of drawback under Section 74 and refund under Section 27 where import duty was paid fully or partly through duty credit scrips.

As per Circular No. 30/2026-Customs, eligible drawback or refund must be granted through re-credit and not in cash where the original duty payment was made through scrips.

For RoDTEP and RoSCTL scrips, the re-credit will be made to the IEC holder’s electronic credit ledger, enabling generation and use of e-scrips. In legacy schemes such as MEIS and SEIS, where re-credit is not feasible, Customs will issue a re-credit certificate for revalidation by DGFT.

Provisional Assessment for Insoluble Sulphur Imports

CBIC has also ordered provisional assessment for imports of Insoluble Sulphur from China through Notification No. 13/2026-Customs (ADD).

The measure is linked to an anti-absorption review initiated by DGTR. The existing anti-dumping duty on Insoluble Sulphur imports from China and Japan will continue during the review period.

Importers may need to furnish a guarantee for any differential duty that becomes payable after the final decision.

Provisional Assessment for Glufosinate Imports

Through Notification No. 14/2026-Customs (ADD), CBIC has directed provisional assessment of imports of Glufosinate and its salt originating in or exported from the People’s Republic of China.

The action follows an anti-absorption review initiated by DGTR. The existing anti-dumping duty under Notification No. 09/2025-Customs (ADD) will continue to be levied and collected.

Importers may be required to provide a guarantee for any differential anti-dumping duty that may become payable after the review is completed.

Anti-Dumping Duty on Normal Butanol

The Government has imposed anti-dumping duty on imports of Normal Butanol or N-Butyl Alcohol under Notification No. 15/2026-Customs (ADD).

The measure applies to goods falling under tariff item 2905 13 00, originating in or exported from Malaysia, South Africa, and the United States of America.

The duty ranges from USD 13.24 per MT to USD 149.31 per MT, depending on the country of origin, exporter, and producer. The duty will remain effective for five years unless amended, revoked, or superseded earlier.

What Businesses Should Do Next

Shipping lines, agents, terminal operators, and custodians should complete SCMTR readiness checks before the transition period ends on 31 August 2026.

Importers should update tariff valuation calculations, review NFMIMS registration timelines, and assess the impact of the latest anti-dumping measures on Normal Butanol, Glufosinate, and Insoluble Sulphur imports.

Businesses claiming drawback or refunds where import duty was paid through duty credit scrips should align their processes with the re-credit mechanism prescribed under Circular No. 30/2026-Customs.

Exporters should also review available support under TRACE, Market Access Support, RELIEF, India-UAE CEPA gold TRQ, and wheat flour quota reallocation.