Export Tea to UAE from India
Tea has its own board. DGFT's list of registering authorities names the Tea Board for tea, so tea exporters take their RCMC from the Tea Board and not from APEDA. The India-UAE CEPA is in force, so qualifying tea can carry a preferential certificate of origin.
Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026
Tea has its own board. DGFT's list of registering authorities names the Tea Board for tea, so tea exporters take their RCMC from the Tea Board and not from APEDA. The India-UAE CEPA is in force, so qualifying tea can carry a preferential certificate of origin.
In FY 2025-26, India's exports to UAE of tea (HS 0902) were US$ 184.7 million, which is 20.5% of India's total exports of the same products (US$ 898.8 million), according to TradeStat.
How much does India export? FY 2025-26
| Product | 2024-25 (US$ million) | 2025-26 (US$ million) | Change | All countries, 2025-26 (US$ million) | Share to UAE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 0902 | 155.5 | 184.7 | +18.8% | 898.8 | 20.5% |
Trade values are in US$ million for the financial year 2025-26 (April 2025 to March 2026), as published by TradeStat, Department of Commerce (data from DGCI&S) and fetched on 2026-10-02. They can be revised later. Shares and changes are calculated from those figures. Year-on-year change compares 2025-26 with 2024-25.
India-side licences and registrations for tea
| Licence | Issued by | Main official fee |
|---|---|---|
| IEC code (Importer Exporter Code) | DGFT, Ministry of Commerce | ₹500Checked on official page Source |
| Tea Board RCMC | Tea Board | Set by the BoardTo confirm Source |
| AD code (Authorised Dealer code) | Your bank gives the code; Customs registers it on ICEGATE | No amount shownTo confirm Source |
| GST LUT (Form GST RFD-11) | GST Department (filed on the GST portal) | No amount shownTo confirm Source |
| Certificate of origin (e-CoO) | Agencies authorised by DGFT (chambers, EPCs and others) | ₹200Checked on official page Source |
Fees and rules change and can differ between offices. Confirm the fee on the official portal before you pay. Amounts marked To confirm could not be checked on an official page.
Policy check
No export restriction on tea appears in the lines of DGFT's 2021 export schedule that we read.
DGFT's lists we read: restricted imports (2019), prohibited imports (2019), export schedule (2021). Current policy: DGFT policy search. HS chapter details: Chapter 9: Coffee, tea and spices.
Trade agreement and certificate of origin
India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Signed 28 March 2022, in force from 1 May 2022.
Exports that qualify under the CEPA can carry a preferential certificate of origin (₹600) issued through trade.gov.in, so your UAE buyer can claim the CEPA duty concession. Other shipments use the non-preferential certificate (₹200).
DGFT Appendix 2A: list of Free Trade Agreements and Preferential Trade Agreements
Steps for this route
- Get your IEC from DGFT (IEC guide). Fee ₹500.
- Register your bank's AD code on ICEGATE (AD code guide).
- Join the Tea Board and obtain the RCMC through the DGFT e-RCMC portal if the Board uses it, or on the Board's own system.
- Confirm food safety and packaging requirements with your UAE buyer.
- Ask your bank for the e-BRC after payment.
- File the shipping bill on ICEGATE and keep the e-BRC after you are paid (export guide).