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India Import Duty Rate for Steel Flat Products

HS 7208–7211 · Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel

India MFN Import Duty Rate

Live

7.5–12%

on CIF value

BCD varies by product form. IGST 18%. Safeguard duties may apply on some origins.

Rate varies — verify exact HS subheading at the official tariff schedule.

How duty is calculated

CIF value

Product cost + international freight + insurance

Import duty (7.5–12%)

Applied to CIF value. EU, UK, and most countries use CIF.

IGST (18%)

Applied to CIF value + duty. Collected at customs.

Use our Landed Cost Calculator to compute the full cost including freight, brokerage, and last-mile delivery.

Worked example: steel flat products worth US$10,000

A commercial shipment invoiced at US$10,000 with US$900 of international freight and insurance. India charges duty on the CIF value (goods + freight + insurance), so the duty base is US$10,900. Customs converts the amount to INR at the official exchange rate on the day of import.

Charge	At 7.5%	At 12%
Import duty	$818	$1,308
Social Welfare Surcharge (10% of duty)	$82	$131
IGST (18%)	$2,124	$2,221
Total paid at the border	$3,023	$3,660

IGST is usually recoverable for a registered business, so the cost that stays with you is the duty and levies. The rate depends on the exact subheading, which is why the example shows both ends of the 7.5–12% range. Excise, anti-dumping duties and broker fees are not included.

Classifying steel flat products correctly

Headings 7208–7212 cover flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel — hot-rolled (7208), cold-rolled (7209), coated (7210) and narrow strip (7211–7212).

Width (600 mm and over vs under) splits 7208–7210 from 7211–7212
Alloy steel goes to 7219–7226
The coating (zinc, tin, aluminium-zinc) decides the 7210 subheading

Compliance. Steel is one of the most trade-remedied products: Section 232 in the US, EU and UK safeguard quotas, anti-dumping duties in most markets, and CBAM in the EU.

Importing into India: what you need

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) assesses duty through the ICEGATE portal; Basic Customs Duty rates are in the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975.

Registration. An Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) from the DGFT and GST registration to claim input credit on IGST.

Low-value shipments. India has no general de minimis for commercial goods. Courier imports under the Courier Imports Regulations have value caps and the full duty stack applies.

Documents customs will ask for

Bill of Entry (filed on ICEGATE)
Commercial invoice and packing list
Bill of lading or air waybill
Certificate of origin for FTA rates (with CAROTAR 2020 origin information)
BIS registration for electronics and other items under compulsory certification

Charges on top of duty

Social Welfare Surcharge: 10% of Basic Customs Duty
IGST at the GST rate of the goods on value + BCD + SWS
Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess on some goods
Anti-dumping and safeguard duties

Watch out. Under CAROTAR 2020 the importer must hold origin information when claiming an FTA rate — a certificate alone is not enough if customs asks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the import duty rate for Steel Flat Products in India?

The MFN (Most Favoured Nation) import duty rate for Steel Flat Products (HS 7208–7211) in India is 7.5–12% on the CIF value. BCD varies by product form. IGST 18%. Safeguard duties may apply on some origins.

Is IGST charged on Steel Flat Products imports to India?

Yes. India charges IGST at 18% on the CIF value plus any import duty. This applies to virtually all commercial imports.

Are there FTA rates available for Steel Flat Products in India?

India has free trade agreements with SAFTA (South Asia), India–ASEAN FTA, India–Japan CEPA, India–Korea CEPA. Check whether your origin country qualifies for a preferential rate on HS 7208–7211.

How is import duty calculated for Steel Flat Products entering India?

Duty is calculated on the CIF value of the goods. CIF value includes the product cost, international freight, and insurance. The MFN duty of 7.5–12% is applied to this value. IGST (18%) is then applied on the duty-paid value.