Electronic goods have led the growth momentum. Exports are rising as smartphones remain one of the key growth drivers. Major markets include the USA, UAE, China, Netherlands, and UK, driven by Make in India and PLI schemes. Export businesses eventually lead to elevated sales of goods and services and growth for the company in the long run. Exporting goods can influence a country’s GDP, exchange rate, level of inflation, as well as interest rates.
Sturdy export data is beneficial. It leads to an increase in job opportunities, enhances foreign currency reserves, boosts manufacturing, and also shoots government revenue collection. Countries benefit through exports as their economy develops. Thereafter, more employment and governmental involvement are gained from exports.
Export business opportunities in India:
In fact, the US is the leading export destination for India’s smartphone and telecom exports. The Netherlands is the dominant market for exporting petroleum and automotive fuel from India. If stats are to be believed, India has already emerged as a domineering player in the global export market. It showcases remarkable growth across various sectors. In the agrochemical sector, India has achieved noteworthy success, particularly in insecticides, rodenticides, and fungicides.
The electronics & telecommunication manufacturing sector has shown significant advancements. This is reflected in the exports of electrical transformers and related components, which grew from $1.08 billion in 2014 to $2.85 billion in 2023 at a very rapid pace. We witness convenient access to innovative technologies, simultaneously with the advent of new technology and innovation.
Government Incentives and Export benefits in India
- Purpose: These scrips are granted to exporters as rewards to offset infrastructure inefficiencies and increased costs.
- Transferability: They are “freely transferable,” which means if an exporter does not need to use them for his own imports, he can sell them to another importer who can use them for tax liabilities.
- Usage: They can be used to pay for Basic Customs Duty, Additional Customs Duty (Sections 3(1), 3(3), and 3(5) of the Customs Tariff Act), safeguard duties, and anti-dumping duties.
- Validity: They are generally valid for 18 to 24 months from the date of issuance.
- GST Impact: They are classified as goods and are generally exempt from GST. When transferred to a third party, it is treated as an exempted supply.
- Process: The transfer is usually done peer-to-peer or via brokers. Once sold, the transfer is registered with the customs department, often requiring a Customs House Agent (CHA).
Discounted Sale: The scrips are usually sold at a discount (e.g., a ₹2 lakh scrip might be sold for ₹1.95 lakh). This provides immediate cash for the seller and tax savings for the buyer.
Scheme Incentives Benefits
Being one of the most sought-after export promotion incentives provided by the Government of India, the Duty Credit Scrips Scheme encourages exports. Issued under the Foreign Trade Policy, the Duty Credit Scrips Scheme aims at incentivizing exporters to enhance the inflow of foreign exchange to India.
- Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) for merchandise exporters
- Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS) for the service exporters
- Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme (EPCG Scheme)
Why export business is profitable in India
Export business growth in India
India’s export business growth is not limited to a single sector. Multiple industries actively drive this expansion. The services sector plays a major role, with strong growth in IT, business process outsourcing (BPO), and rapidly expanding Global Capability Centers (GCCs).
In the merchandise sector, industries such as engineering goods, electronics, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals demonstrate strong performance, reflecting India’s deepening manufacturing capabilities. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) further accelerate growth by providing incentives and infrastructure that support both IT and manufacturing sectors.
Strong export business has created millions of jobs in India’s textiles and IT industries. The Foreign Trade Policy defines “Deemed Exports”. It covers transactions in which suppliers provide goods that do not leave the country, and buyers make payment in Indian rupees or in free foreign exchange.
The Deemed Export Scheme covers various categories of supply by manufacturers, main contractors, and subcontractors. These include the supply of goods against Advance Supply to EOU and the supply of goods to United Nations or international organizations for their official uses.
This scheme also provides a level-playing field to domestic manufacturers in certain specified cases.
- Advance Authorisation / Advance Authorisation for annual requirement/DFIA
- Deemed Export Drawback for BCD
- Refund of terminal excise duty for excisable.