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Import export policy: Base metals and their articles (HS 72 to 83)
Is import or export free, restricted or prohibited for base metals and their articles? HS chapters 72 to 83: what each covers, DGFT policy lines, which licences apply and FY.
Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026
Section XV of the Harmonised System covers base metals and their articles. For each chapter below you see what it covers, whether export or import is free, restricted or prohibited in the DGFT documents we read, which India-side licences usually apply, and the official trade values for FY 2025-26.
| HS chapter | Exports, US$ million | Imports, US$ million | Export policy | Import policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72: Iron and steel | 10,317 | 15,753 | Free in general | 2 restricted code(s) |
| 73: Iron and steel articles | 10,409 | 5,747 | Free in general | 1 restricted code(s) |
| 74: Copper | 3,359 | 12,780 | Free in general | 4 restricted code(s) |
| 75: Nickel | 185 | 1,188 | Free in general | 1 restricted code(s) |
| 76: Aluminium | 7,018 | 10,000 | Free in general | 1 restricted code(s) |
| 78: Lead | 1,269 | 1,171 | Free in general | 1 restricted code(s) |
| 79: Zinc | 879 | 1,100 | Free in general | 1 restricted code(s) |
| 80: Tin | 52 | 518 | Free in general | 1 restricted code(s) |
| 81: Other base metals | 297 | 773 | Free in general | 16 restricted code(s) |
| 82: Tools and cutlery | 1,149 | 1,697 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 83: Miscellaneous metal articles | 1,026 | 1,292 | Free in general | Free in general |
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.
"Free in general" means we found no restricted, prohibited or STE line for this chapter. Policy changes by DGFT notification. The import notes come from DGFT's lists of restricted (407 codes) and prohibited (88 codes) imports, both as on 12 June 2019. The export notes come from DGFT's chapter-wise export schedule, 2021 edition. Check your 8-digit code on DGFT's policy search for the current position.
Chapter by chapter
Chapter 72: Iron and steel
Pig iron, steel, flat and long products, stainless steel and alloys.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 10,317 million, +11.5% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Italy (1,222), USA (741), Nepal (730), UAE (616).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: EEPC India
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 15,753 million, -9.5% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): South Korea (2,590), Indonesia (1,667), Japan (1,638), China (1,571).
- Restricted: waste and scrap items listed in this chapter.
Usually needed: BIS (check list), DGFT policy lines
Chapter 73: Iron and steel articles
Pipes, fasteners, wire, structures, utensils and other steel articles.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 10,409 million, +2.3% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (3,015), UAE (835), Germany (511), Saudi Arabia (434).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: EEPC India
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 5,747 million, +9.3% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (2,504), Japan (432), USA (362), Germany (353).
- Restricted: one listed article of iron or steel.
Usually needed: BIS (check list), DGFT policy lines
Chapter 74: Copper
Copper and copper articles.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 3,359 million, +62.0% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Saudi Arabia (983), China (761), USA (341), South Korea (318).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: EEPC India
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 12,780 million, +18.8% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Japan (2,377), Tanzania Rep (1,957), UAE (1,420), China (951).
- Restricted: waste and scrap of this metal as the DGFT list shows.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Chapter 75: Nickel
Nickel and nickel articles.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 185 million, -1.9% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (29), UK (24), UAE (14), South Korea (12).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: EEPC India
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,188 million, -4.0% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (300), Japan (152), USA (100), Norway (79).
- Restricted: waste and scrap of this metal as the DGFT list shows.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Chapter 76: Aluminium
Aluminium and aluminium articles.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 7,018 million, +2.8% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (1,094), South Korea (585), Vietnam (525), China (391).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: EEPC India
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 10,000 million, +20.9% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (2,581), USA (962), UAE (804), Malaysia (668).
- Restricted: waste and scrap of this metal as the DGFT list shows.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Chapter 78: Lead
Lead and lead articles.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,269 million, +34.2% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Singapore (383), South Korea (343), Vietnam (106), Malaysia (78).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: EEPC India
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,171 million, -8.5% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Malaysia (141), USA (130), UAE (103), South Korea (91).
- Restricted: waste and scrap of this metal as the DGFT list shows.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Chapter 79: Zinc
Zinc and zinc articles.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 879 million, +18.7% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Saudi Arabia (135), Thailand (131), Singapore (126), UAE (103).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: EEPC India
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,100 million, +33.9% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): South Korea (604), Singapore (90), Japan (80), Netherlands (46).
- Restricted: waste and scrap of this metal as the DGFT list shows.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Chapter 80: Tin
Tin and tin articles.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 52 million, +117.4% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Malaysia (9), UAE (7), Philippines (7), South Korea (6).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: EEPC India
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 518 million, +4.7% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Indonesia (180), China (87), Malaysia (72), Peru (65).
- Restricted: waste and scrap of this metal as the DGFT list shows.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Chapter 81: Other base metals
Tungsten, tantalum, magnesium, cobalt, titanium and other base metals.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 297 million, +94.8% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (67), Singapore (56), Germany (39), South Korea (26).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: EEPC India
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 773 million, +13.8% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (370), USA (55), Thailand (34), Germany (32).
- Restricted: waste and scrap of this metal as the DGFT list shows.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Chapter 82: Tools and cutlery
Hand tools, knives, spoons, forks and cutting tools.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,149 million, -2.7% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (294), Netherlands (98), Germany (69), UAE (62).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: EEPC India
Chapter 83: Miscellaneous metal articles
Locks, hinges, safes, bells, frames and other base metal articles.
Common questions
Is export of base metals and their articles free?
Is import of base metals and their articles free?
Where do I check the current policy?
Is Govt License a government website?
Related guides
Official sources for this page
- DGFT list of restricted items for import (407 codes, as on 12 June 2019)
- DGFT list of prohibited items for import (88 codes, updated 12 June 2019)
- DGFT ITC (HS) Schedule 2: chapter-wise Export Policy (2021 edition)
- DGFT ITC (HS) 2022 Schedule 1: General Notes regarding Import Policy
- DGFT ITC (HS) Schedule 2: General Notes to Export Policy
- DGFT Appendix 2T: list of Export Promotion Councils and Commodity Boards
- TradeStat, Department of Commerce (data from DGCI&S)
- DGFT ITC (HS) import and export policy search