—IEC
Importing and Exporting From Uttar Pradesh: DGFT, Ports, Air Cargo and ICDs
Practical points for importers and exporters in Uttar Pradesh: the DGFT office, ports and air cargo, inland container depots, and key export sectors.
Uttar Pradesh exports carpets, leather and footwear, brassware and handicrafts, textiles, processed foods, and electronics from the Noida region. Importers and exporters here use the same national systems as everywhere else, with a few local points worth knowing. This guide covers them.
The IEC and DGFT
The IEC is applied for online on the DGFT portal, so there's no need to visit an office. The DGFT has regional offices in Kanpur, Varanasi and Moradabad, which handle matters under the Foreign Trade Policy for the region, such as certain authorisations and schemes.
Sea Freight
Uttar Pradesh is landlocked. Sea freight moves through inland container depots, such as Dadri near Noida and others around Kanpur and Moradabad, and is railed to ports in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Exporters register their AD code at each port or inland container depot they ship through.
Air Cargo
Air cargo moves through Lucknow and Varanasi airports, with Delhi used for larger volumes. Exporters shipping by air register their AD code with customs at the airport.
Key Sectors
- Carpets: exporters register with the Carpet Export Promotion Council.
- Leather and footwear: exporters register with the Council for Leather Exports.
- Handicrafts: exporters usually register with EPCH, and items made from wood or animal products may need extra certificates.
- Electronics and IT hardware: imports often need BIS compliance and other approvals.
Most exporters also register with the relevant export promotion council or commodity board for a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC), which is needed for many Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
GST for Exporters in Uttar Pradesh
File a GST LUT each year to export without IGST, and claim refunds of unused credit. Refunds are processed by the jurisdictional officer — from the Uttar Pradesh state GST department or central GST.
A Checklist for Traders in Uttar Pradesh
- Get an IEC and complete the annual update every April to June.
- Register your AD code at the airport, ICD or ports you use.
- File a GST LUT each year.
- Check sector-specific export requirements and register with the right export promotion council.
- Track realisation of export proceeds.
Getting Help
Think Filing helps businesses in Uttar Pradesh start importing and exporting, from IEC to GST refunds.