How Do I Export from India to France?

India-France Trade Snapshot

France is India's 3rd largest trading partner within the European Union. Bilateral trade reached EUR 12.67 billion in FY 2024-25, with Indian exports to France totalling approximately USD 7.71 billion. The relationship was elevated to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership" in 2023, reflecting deepening ties in defence, space, nuclear energy, and trade.

France is the 7th largest economy globally and the 2nd largest in the EU. It offers Indian exporters access to a high-purchasing-power consumer base of 68 million people, and serves as a gateway to the broader EU single market of 450 million consumers.

What Does India Export to France?

India's export basket to France is diversified, with strong growth in electronics and aircraft components. Electronics exports grew 43% year-on-year in FY 2024-25, reflecting India's expanding manufacturing base.

Duties, GSP Suspension & the India-EU FTA

France, as an EU member state, applies the EU's Common External Tariff (CET) to all imports from non-EU countries. Duty rates are set by the European Commission and are uniform across all 27 member states.

What Happened to India's GSP Benefits?

India benefited from the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), which provided reduced tariff rates on many product categories. However, the EU suspended India's GSP benefits effective January 2026, raising tariffs on most Indian exports to full MFN rates. This suspension coincides with the conclusion of the India-EU FTA negotiations and is intended to be temporary.

What Does the India-EU FTA Mean for Exporters?

The India-EU Free Trade Agreement was concluded in January 2026 after over a decade of negotiations. Once ratified (expected early 2027), it will eliminate tariffs on 99.5% of tariff lines over a 7-year phase-down period. Key provisions:

• Immediate zero duty on approximately 80% of tariff lines upon entry into force.
• Phased reduction over 3, 5, and 7 years for sensitive products (textiles, agriculture, automobiles).
• Rules of origin will require substantial transformation in India to qualify for preferential rates.
• Mutual recognition of conformity assessment for select product categories.

What Are the Current EU MFN Duty Rates?

EU & French Compliance Rules

France applies the full EU regulatory framework, plus additional French-specific requirements. Non-compliant goods will be refused at the border or recalled from the market by the DGCCRF (France's consumer protection and fraud prevention authority).

4.1 CE Marking

CE marking is mandatory for a wide range of products sold in the EU. It signifies that the product conforms to the applicable EU health, safety, and environmental protection standards.

CE Marking Requirements

• Identify applicable directives. Low Voltage Directive (LVD), Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), Machinery Directive, Radio Equipment Directive (RED), Medical Devices Regulation (MDR), Toy Safety Directive, etc.
• Conformity assessment. Depending on the directive, this may be self-certification (Module A) or require a Notified Body (Modules B-H). Higher-risk products always need a Notified Body.
• Technical documentation. Maintain a Technical File with test reports, risk assessments, design specifications, and manufacturing details. This must be available to authorities for 10 years.
• Declaration of Conformity (DoC). A formal document signed by the manufacturer or EU Authorised Representative declaring compliance.
• EU Authorised Representative. Non-EU manufacturers must appoint an Authorised Representative established in the EU since July 2021 (required by the Market Surveillance Regulation 2019/1020).

4.2 REACH Regulation

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) applies to all chemicals and products containing chemicals imported into the EU. If your product contains chemical substances above 1 tonne per year, those substances must be registered with ECHA (European Chemicals Agency).

• Only Representatives (OR). Non-EU manufacturers must appoint an OR to handle REACH registration on their behalf.
• SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern). If your product contains any SVHC above 0.1% w/w, you must inform the buyer and, upon request, the consumer.
• SCIP database. Articles containing SVHCs must be notified to ECHA's SCIP database.
• Restricted substances. Annex XVII lists substances banned or restricted in the EU (e.g., certain azo dyes in textiles, lead in consumer products, cadmium in jewelry).

4.3 French-Language Labeling

France requires all consumer product labels and instructions to be in French. This is a legal requirement under the Loi Toubon (1994) and is strictly enforced:

• Product labels. All mandatory information (ingredients, usage instructions, warnings, origin) must be in French.
• User manuals. Must include a French translation. Bilingual (English + French) is acceptable only if the French text is equally prominent.
• Food products. Full ingredient lists, allergen declarations, nutritional information, and best-before dates must be in French. The EU Food Information Regulation (FIC 1169/2011) format applies.
• Cosmetics. Must list ingredients (INCI nomenclature), include precautions in French, and carry the PAO (Period After Opening) symbol.

4.4 EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation)

The EU Deforestation Regulation applies to imports of cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soy, and wood. As well as derived products (leather, chocolate, furniture, tyres, printed paper). Indian exporters of leather, coffee, and rubber products must:

• Provide geolocation data of the land where the commodity was produced.
• Demonstrate the commodity was not produced on land deforested after December 31, 2020.
• Submit a due diligence statement to the EU information system before placing goods on the market.

4.5 PPWR (Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation)

The EU's new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) takes effect from August 2026. It imposes mandatory recycled content targets, recyclability requirements, and restrictions on certain packaging formats. Indian exporters must ensure their packaging meets these requirements or face rejection at the border.

CBAM: Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has been in full effect since January 2026. It applies a carbon price to imports of carbon-intensive goods, equivalent to the price EU producers pay under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).

Which Products Are Covered?

• Iron and steel. Including flat-rolled products, tubes, pipes, and stainless steel.
• Aluminium. Unwrought aluminium, aluminium bars, rods, and profiles.
• Cement. Portland cement, aluminous cement, clinker.
• Fertilisers. Urea, ammonium nitrate, NPK fertilisers.
• Electricity. Not applicable for India-France trade.
• Hydrogen. From January 2026.

What Must Indian Exporters Do?

• Calculate embedded emissions. Measure both direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) emissions per tonne of product.
• Report to your EU importer. The EU importer is the "authorised CBAM declarant" and must purchase CBAM certificates based on your reported emissions.
• Provide verified data. From 2027, emissions data must be verified by an accredited verifier. Default values (which are higher) apply if actual data is not provided.
• Deduct any carbon price paid in India. If you have paid a carbon tax or equivalent in India, this can be deducted from the CBAM obligation. India does not currently have a carbon pricing mechanism, so no deduction is available.

Shipping & Logistics

France has excellent port infrastructure and is well-connected to the Indian shipping network via the Suez Canal route.

Major Shipping Routes

Shipping Methods Compared

Which [Incoterms](/resources/incoterms) Should I Use?

For France, the most common Incoterms are:

• FOB (Free on Board). Seller delivers goods to the Indian port. Most common for B2B trade where the French buyer arranges ocean freight.
• CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight). Seller covers freight and insurance to the French port. Note: CIF value is the basis for EU customs valuation and duty calculation.
• DAP (Delivered at Place). Seller delivers to the buyer's warehouse in France; buyer handles import clearance and duties. Increasingly common for e-commerce.
• DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). Seller handles everything including French import duties and VAT. Requires the seller to register for French VAT.

Payment & EDPMS Compliance

Getting paid from France follows standard international trade payment methods. However, Indian exporters must also comply with RBI's FEMA regulations and EDPMS (Export Data Processing and Monitoring System) reporting requirements.

EDPMS & FEMA Compliance

Every export from India creates an EDPMS entry that must be closed by matching the shipping bill with the corresponding bank realisation (BRC). Key deadlines and requirements:

• 9-month repatriation deadline. All export proceeds must be received and credited to your Indian bank account within 9 months of the shipping bill date.
• EDPMS matching. Your AD bank matches inward remittances against outstanding shipping bills in EDPMS. Unmatched entries attract RBI scrutiny.
• Write-off limits. If a buyer defaults, you can write off up to 5% of total export proceeds for the year (AD bank approval) or up to 10% (RBI approval required).
• EUR invoicing. French buyers typically pay in EUR. Ensure your AD Code bank account is enabled for EUR receipts. The bank converts EUR to INR at the prevailing rate.

Export Incentives

Indian exporters shipping to France can claim the same government incentives available for all export destinations. These can significantly offset the tariff increase from the GSP suspension.

RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products)

Refunds embedded taxes not covered by other mechanisms (state levies on fuel, electricity duty, mandi tax). Rates range from 0.5-4.3% of FOB value depending on the HS code. Credits are issued as transferable scrips via ICEGATE. Calculate your RoDTEP benefit.

[Duty Drawback](/resources/duty-drawback)

Refund of customs duties paid on imported inputs used in export production. Claimed at All Industry Rates (AIR) or Brand Rates. Can be claimed simultaneously with RoDTEP. Particularly valuable for manufacturers importing raw materials for re-export as finished goods.

Interest Equalisation Scheme

Interest subvention of 2% for manufacturer exporters and 3-5% for MSME manufacturer exporters on pre-shipment and post-shipment rupee export credit. Applied directly by your bank, reducing effective borrowing cost. Available for 410 tariff lines at the 4-digit level.

Advance Authorisation & EPCG

Advance Authorisation permits duty-free import of raw materials for export production. EPCG allows duty-free import of capital goods with a 6x export obligation over 6 years. Both schemes are administered by DGFT and can be combined with RoDTEP and Duty Drawback.

Frequently Asked Questions

What duties does France charge on Indian imports after the EU GSP suspension?

Since India's EU GSP was suspended in January 2026, French customs applies the EU's MFN tariff rates. These vary by product: textiles 8-12%, chemicals 3-6.5%, electronics 0-4%, agricultural products 5-20%. Once the India-EU FTA is ratified (expected early 2027), tariffs will phase down to zero on 99.5% of tariff lines over 7 years. Use our HS code lookup tool to find the exact duty rate for your product.

Do I need CE marking to export products to France?

Yes. CE marking is mandatory for products sold anywhere in the EU. It applies to electronics, machinery, toys, medical devices, PPE, construction products, and more. The manufacturer must prepare a Declaration of Conformity, conduct testing (self-assessment or via a Notified Body), and affix the CE mark. Products without CE marking will be refused at French customs. You must also appoint an EU Authorised Representative since July 2021.

How long does shipping from India to France take?

Sea freight from JNPT or Mundra to Le Havre takes 18-22 days. To Marseille, it is shorter at 14-18 days via the Suez Canal. Air freight from Delhi or Mumbai to Paris CDG takes 1-3 days. Express courier (DHL, FedEx) delivers in 3-6 business days. EU customs clearance typically adds 1-3 business days.

Sources & Resources

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Update history

• 2026-08-11 First published.