The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has put into effect comprehensive reforms to streamline e-commerce exports and courier-based trade. Effective from April 1, these reforms aim to enhance exports, particularly for e-commerce exporters, by removing the Rs 10 lakh value cap per courier consignment. This change allows for greater flexibility in shipment value and facilitates seamless exports through the courier mode.
The Ministry of Finance stated that these reforms eliminate the necessity to redirect such shipments to traditional air or sea cargo solely due to value restrictions. Additionally, a Return to Origin mechanism for uncleared shipments has been sanctioned to improve the ease of doing business for MSMEs, artisans, and startups. This mechanism aims to reduce logistics inefficiencies, dwell time, and transaction costs in courier-based trade.
Moreover, under the new rule, uncleared or unclaimed imports that remain so for over 15 days, and are not prohibited, restricted, or under enforcement hold, can be returned to origin through a simplified process. This initiative is expected to ease congestion at courier terminals and enhance logistics efficiency. The CBIC has also simplified the procedure for the re-import of returned or rejected goods, including those related to e-commerce exports.
The government’s statement highlighted the adoption of a risk-based approach instead of consignment-wise verification and the development of a dedicated return module in the Express Cargo Clearance System to facilitate smooth processing of returns. These reforms, supported by system-based enhancements and process simplifications, aim to enhance the overall efficiency of courier-based trade.
The Ministry emphasized that these measures signify a significant step in the government’s continuous endeavors to promote ease of doing business, strengthen India’s e-commerce export ecosystem, and bolster the country’s competitiveness in global trade. Notably, India’s e-commerce market, currently valued at $120–140 billion, is projected to reach $280–300 billion by 2030, accounting for 7–8% of total consumer spending, as per a recent report.
