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Import export policy: Mineral products (HS 25 to 27)
Is import or export free, restricted or prohibited for mineral products? HS chapters 25 to 27: what each covers, DGFT policy lines, which licences apply and FY 2025-26 trade.
Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026
Section V of the Harmonised System covers mineral products. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25: Salt, stone and cement | 2,282 | 5,288 | Free in general | 17 restricted code(s) |
| 26: Ores, slag and ash | 2,139 | 10,403 | Has restricted, prohibited or STE lines | 18 restricted code(s) |
| 27: Mineral fuels and oils | 55,871 | 2,03,416 | Has restricted, prohibited or STE lines | 4 restricted code(s), 3 prohibited code(s) |
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 25: Salt, stone and cement
Salt, sulphur, earths, stone, marble, granite, plaster, lime and cement.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 2,282 million, +11.9% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): China (874), Bangladesh (203), USA (121), Indonesia (101).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: CAPEXIL
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 5,288 million, +6.3% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): UAE (1,182), Jordan (697), Oman (506), Morocco (368).
- Restricted (17 codes): slate, marble, travertine and similar stone in crude, blocks and slabs.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Chapter 26: Ores, slag and ash
Iron, manganese, chrome, copper and other metal ores, slag and ash.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 2,139 million, -9.0% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): China (1,797), Malaysia (79), Bangladesh (62), Indonesia (34).
- Beach sand minerals can be exported only through Indian Rare Earths Limited. Iron ore (other than the Free categories) and manganese ore are STE items: export is through MMTC Limited, or MOIL for manganese, and Kudremukh Iron Ore Company for its concentrate.
- Lumpy or blended manganese ore with more than 46% manganese, and chrome ore other than the beneficiated categories, are Restricted; certain chrome ore categories are STE through MMTC.
Usually needed: CAPEXIL, DGFT policy lines
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 10,403 million, +43.8% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Chile (2,386), Australia (1,157), Brazil (939), Peru (729).
- Restricted (18 codes): uranium, thorium and niobium-tantalum ores and converted slag.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Chapter 27: Mineral fuels and oils
Coal, crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas and electrical energy.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 55,871 million, -16.7% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Netherlands (8,439), UAE (5,851), Singapore (4,469), USA (3,522).
- Crude oil export is through Indian Oil Corporation Limited (STE). Ethyl alcohol and other spirits (denatured), petroleum oils of heading 2710 and biodiesel are Restricted: export is permitted under licence only for non-fuel purposes.
Usually needed: FIEO, DGFT policy lines
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 2,03,416 million, -6.9% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Russia (47,825), UAE (24,273), Iraq (24,146), Saudi Arabia (21,788).
- Restricted: petroleum oils containing polychlorinated compounds, other listed petroleum oils and electrical energy.
- Petroleum coke (heading 2713) is covered by a policy condition in the chapter.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Common questions
Is export of mineral products free?
Is import of mineral products 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