Export to China from India and import from China
Export to China from India or import from China: IEC code, RCMC, LUT, certificate of origin, Asia Pacific Trade Agreement, top products with FY 2025-26 values and the official.
Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026
Largest source of Indian imports; APTA member, no bilateral FTA.
In FY 2025-26, the largest groups of Indian exports to China were electrical machinery and electronics (US$ 3,178 million), mineral fuels and oils (US$ 2,462 million), ores, slag and ash (US$ 1,797 million). The largest groups of imports from China were electrical machinery and electronics (US$ 46,365 million), machinery and mechanical appliances (US$ 29,446 million), organic chemicals (US$ 11,522 million). All figures are from TradeStat.
Trade agreement and certificate of origin
Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). APTA was first signed in July 1975 and has been in force since 1 November 1976. The revised agreement was signed on 2 November 2005. India and China are both members.
Goods that meet APTA rules can carry a preferential certificate of origin (₹600). Other shipments use the non-preferential certificate (₹200).
DGFT Appendix 2A: list of Free Trade Agreements and Preferential Trade Agreements
What matters on the Indian side
- For imports from China the biggest approval risks are product standards. Electronics and IT goods fall under BIS compulsory registration, and wireless devices need WPC Equipment Type Approval. Plan these before you pay your supplier.
- DGFT's 2019 list of prohibited imports carries a country-specific prohibition on milk and milk products from China, including chocolates, candies and food preparations with milk solids as an ingredient. Check whether it is still in force.
- Border trade through the Gunji, Namgaya Shipkila and Nathula ports is exempt from IEC for permissible goods subject to value ceilings in paragraph 2.07 of the Handbook of Procedures.
What India exports to China
The ten largest HS chapters by value in FY 2025-26. The last column shows the usual India-side registrations for that product group.
| HS chapter | 2024-25 (US$ million) | 2025-26 (US$ million) | Change | Share of India's exports to China | India-side approvals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85: Electrical machinery and electronics | 842.6 | 3,178.3 | +277.2% | 16.3% | EEPC India, ESC, TEPC, DGFT policy lines |
| 27: Mineral fuels and oils | 1,269.2 | 2,462.3 | +94.0% | 12.6% | FIEO, DGFT policy lines |
| 26: Ores, slag and ash | 1,943.0 | 1,796.7 | -7.5% | 9.2% | CAPEXIL, DGFT policy lines |
| 3: Fish and seafood | 1,093.8 | 1,375.0 | +25.7% | 7.1% | MPEDA, DGFT policy lines |
| 29: Organic chemicals | 1,263.8 | 1,343.0 | +6.3% | 6.9% | CHEMEXCIL, Pharmexcil, DGFT policy lines |
| 84: Machinery and mechanical appliances | 1,160.9 | 1,263.1 | +8.8% | 6.5% | EEPC India |
| 25: Salt, stone and cement | 785.7 | 874.3 | +11.3% | 4.5% | CAPEXIL |
| 15: Fats and oils | 866.6 | 769.4 | -11.2% | 4.0% | CEPCI, IOPEPC, Coconut Board, DGFT policy lines |
| 74: Copper | 367.8 | 760.7 | +106.9% | 3.9% | EEPC India |
| 67: Feathers, artificial flowers and hair articles | 469.3 | 494.1 | +5.3% | 2.5% | FIEO |
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.
What India imports from China
The ten largest HS chapters by value in FY 2025-26, with the approvals an Indian importer usually needs. Policy details for each chapter are in our chapter guide.
| HS chapter | 2024-25 (US$ million) | 2025-26 (US$ million) | Change | Share of India's imports from China | India-side approvals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85: Electrical machinery and electronics | 38,026.9 | 46,365.1 | +21.9% | 35.2% | BIS registration, WPC ETA, Legal Metrology (if packed), DGFT policy lines |
| 84: Machinery and mechanical appliances | 25,925.0 | 29,446.3 | +13.6% | 22.4% | BIS (check list), DGFT policy lines |
| 29: Organic chemicals | 11,475.9 | 11,521.5 | +0.4% | 8.8% | CDSCO (bulk drugs), DGFT policy lines |
| 39: Plastics | 6,335.3 | 6,711.2 | +5.9% | 5.1% | Legal Metrology (if packed), DGFT policy lines |
| 87: Vehicles | 2,135.3 | 2,869.3 | +34.4% | 2.2% | BIS (check list), DGFT policy lines |
| 90: Optical, medical and measuring instruments | 2,561.6 | 2,751.5 | +7.4% | 2.1% | CDSCO (medical devices), BIS (check list), DGFT policy lines |
| 76: Aluminium | 1,989.8 | 2,580.9 | +29.7% | 2.0% | DGFT policy lines |
| 73: Iron and steel articles | 2,234.2 | 2,504.4 | +12.1% | 1.9% | BIS (check list), DGFT policy lines |
| 31: Fertilisers | 875.8 | 2,336.7 | +166.8% | 1.8% | DGFT policy lines |
| 38: Miscellaneous chemical products | 1,573.3 | 2,028.6 | +28.9% | 1.5% | DGFT policy lines |
To export from India to China
- IEC code (₹500)
- AD code on ICEGATE
- RCMC from the council for your product
- GST LUT
- Certificate of origin (₹200 or ₹600)
- Product certificates such as phytosanitary
Product routes for China
Official links for China
- General Administration of Customs of China (English): official import and customs information of China
- Embassy of India, Beijing: trade and commerce information from the Indian mission
- TradeStat: Indian trade data
We do not state China's duties or fees. Check them on the China government portals above or ask your buyer.