—IEC
Importing and Exporting From West Bengal: DGFT, Ports, Air Cargo and ICDs
Practical points for importers and exporters in West Bengal: the DGFT office, ports and air cargo, land borders, inland container depots, and key export sectors.
West Bengal exports engineering goods, jute products, leather, tea from Darjeeling and the Dooars, seafood, and gems and jewellery. Importers and exporters here use the same national systems as everywhere else, with a few local points worth knowing. This guide covers them.
The IEC and DGFT
The IEC is applied for online on the DGFT portal, so there's no need to visit an office. The DGFT has a regional office in Kolkata, which handles matters under the Foreign Trade Policy for the region, such as certain authorisations and schemes.
Sea Freight
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, with its Kolkata and Haldia docks, handles exports for the state and much of eastern and north-eastern India. Exporters register their AD code at each port or inland container depot they ship through.
Air Cargo
Kolkata airport is the main air cargo hub for eastern India. Exporters shipping by air register their AD code with customs at the airport.
Land Borders
Petrapole, on the border with Bangladesh, is one of India's busiest land ports.
Key Sectors
- Engineering goods: exporters usually register with EEPC, and some items need export licences under the SCOMET list.
- Tea: exporters register with the Tea Board.
- Leather and footwear: exporters register with the Council for Leather Exports.
- Seafood: exporters register with MPEDA, and processing plants need approval for markets like the EU.
Most exporters also register with the relevant export promotion council or commodity board for a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC), which is needed for many Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
GST for Exporters in West Bengal
File a GST LUT each year to export without IGST, and claim refunds of unused credit. Refunds are processed by the jurisdictional officer — from the West Bengal state GST department or central GST.
A Checklist for Traders in West Bengal
- Get an IEC and complete the annual update every April to June.
- Register your AD code at the ports, airports or land customs stations you use.
- File a GST LUT each year.
- Check sector-specific export requirements and register with the right export promotion council.
- Track realisation of export proceeds.
Getting Help
Think Filing helps businesses in West Bengal start importing and exporting, from IEC to GST refunds.