Exporting artificial jewellery from India requires completing several regulatory and logistical steps, including obtaining an IEC code from DGFT, registering for GST, filing a Letter of Undertaking, and correctly classifying products under HS Code 7117. Exporters must also prepare documentation such as a commercial invoice, packing list, and shipping bill.
Compliance with international chemical regulations, particularly EU REACH and US Prop 65 nickel and lead restrictions, is essential for certain markets. Shipping method selection, proper export packaging, and working with a licensed Customs House Agent are additional factors that affect whether shipments clear customs successfully.
How to Export Artificial Jewellery from India: Step-by-Step Guide
India is one of the world’s most celebrated sources of fashion and imitation jewellery — a fact that global buyers discover the moment they walk into a trade fair or land on a wholesale catalogue. If you are looking to export artificial jewellery from India, you are entering a market that generated over USD 1.5 billion in imitation jewellery export revenues in recent years, with demand growing steadily from the United States, the UAE, the UK, and beyond. Whether you are a manufacturer, a trading house, or an international buyer sourcing directly, this guide walks you through every step of the process — from registering your business for exports to finding buyers, packing shipments, and navigating Indian customs.
export artificial jewellery India
At Manek Ratna, we have been manufacturing and supplying wholesale imitation jewellery from Mumbai for decades. We work with buyers across continents, and the questions we receive most often from aspiring exporters and international buyers are the same: Where do I begin? What paperwork do I need? How do I ensure my shipment clears customs? This guide answers all of those questions — in plain language, in the right order.
Why This Answer Is Trustworthy
The guidance in this article is based on Manek Ratna’s direct, hands-on experience as an active imitation jewellery manufacturer and exporter operating out of Mumbai, India. Our team has navigated DGFT registrations, GST LUT filings, ICEGATE shipping bill submissions, and international buyer negotiations across multiple markets. The regulatory framework described here reflects the rules currently in force under Indian customs and foreign trade policy, cross-referenced with the official DGFT and CBIC guidelines. We have also drawn on the collective experience of our export logistics partners and customs brokers. This is practitioner knowledge — not theoretical — and it is updated regularly as Indian export policy evolves.
Step 1 — Understand the Opportunity: Why Export Artificial Jewellery from India?
India’s advantage in imitation jewellery export is not accidental. It is the product of centuries of craft tradition, a vast skilled artisan workforce, access to affordable raw materials, and a manufacturing ecosystem — particularly in Mumbai, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Rajkot — that can produce everything from delicate Kundan jewellery to contemporary oxidised pieces at competitive price points.
The global fashion jewellery market is projected to cross USD 59 billion by 2028, and Indian exporters are well-positioned to capture a growing share. International buyers — from boutique store owners in London to wholesale distributors in Dubai — are actively seeking Indian suppliers who can offer:
- Authentic, handcrafted designs rooted in Indian tradition
- Competitive wholesale pricing with reasonable MOQs
- Consistent quality and reliable shipping timelines
- A wide range of styles, from bridal sets to everyday fashion pieces
The HS Code for artificial jewellery exports from India is 7117 (imitation jewellery). This classification is important — it determines your duty drawback eligibility, the import duties your buyer faces in their country, and the documentation you need to prepare.
Step 2 — Get Your Business Export-Ready
2a. Register Your Business
Before you can export artificial jewellery from India, your business must be legally registered. This can be a sole proprietorship, a partnership firm, a private limited company, or an LLP. Ensure you have:
- A valid PAN (Permanent Account Number)
- A current bank account in your business name
- GST registration (mandatory for exports)
2b. Obtain Your IEC Code
The Import Export Code (IEC) is the single most important document for any Indian exporter. Issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), it is a 10-digit code linked to your PAN. Without an IEC, your shipping bill cannot be filed and your goods cannot legally leave India.
How to apply:
- Visit the DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in) and create a login
- Fill the IEC application form (ANF 2A) online
- Upload your PAN, Aadhaar, bank certificate, and business address proof
- Pay the government fee of ₹500 online
- Receive your IEC digitally within 2–3 working days
Once issued, the IEC is valid for life and requires no renewal — though it must be updated if your business details change.
2c. File a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) Under GST
Exports are zero-rated under GST, but you must file an LUT with the GST department at the start of each financial year to export without paying IGST upfront. This is done online through the GST portal and is straightforward. Failure to file an LUT means you must pay IGST on exports and then claim a refund — a process that ties up working capital unnecessarily.
Step 3 — Know Your Product Classification and Compliance Requirements
HS Code and ITC-HS Classification
All fashion jewellery export from India is classified under Chapter 71 of the ITC-HS schedule. The relevant codes are:
- 7117.11 — Cufflinks and studs of base metal
- 7117.19 — Other imitation jewellery of base metal (most common for wholesale fashion jewellery)
- 7117.90 — Other imitation jewellery (non-metal, e.g., fabric, terracotta, resin)
Getting this classification right matters enormously. It affects the import duty your buyer pays in their country, your eligibility for export incentives like RoDTEP, and the accuracy of your shipping bill.
International Compliance: Nickel and Lead Regulations
If you are exporting to the European Union, the UK, or the United States, be aware of chemical compliance requirements:
- EU REACH Regulation: Restricts nickel release from jewellery items that come into direct and prolonged contact with skin. Your products must meet EN 1811 testing standards.
- California Prop 65 (USA): Restricts lead and cadmium in jewellery sold in California.
- UK REACH: Post-Brexit, the UK has its own version of REACH with similar nickel restrictions.
Work with your manufacturer to obtain third-party test reports from accredited labs before shipping to regulated markets. At Manek Ratna, we guide our export buyers through this process as part of our standard onboarding.
Step 4 — Prepare Your Export Documentation
Documentation is where many first-time exporters stumble. Here is the complete checklist for a standard artificial jewellery export from India:
Mandatory Documents
- Commercial Invoice: Must include seller and buyer details, description of goods, HS code, quantity, unit price, total value in agreed currency, and Incoterms (e.g., FOB Mumbai, CIF Dubai).
- Packing List: Details of each carton — number of pieces, gross weight, net weight, dimensions. Must match the commercial invoice exactly.
- Shipping Bill: Filed electronically on the ICEGATE portal by your customs broker (CHA — Customs House Agent). This is the primary export declaration document.
- Bill of Lading (sea) or Airway Bill (air): Issued by the shipping line or airline/freight forwarder. Serves as the contract of carriage and title document.
- GST LUT or IGST Payment Proof: Confirms your zero-rated export status.
Conditional Documents
- Certificate of Origin (COO): Required by many countries to avail preferential duty rates under trade agreements. Issued by the Export Inspection Council (EIC) or chambers of commerce.
- Test Reports / Compliance Certificates: Required for EU, UK, and US markets (nickel, lead testing).
- Insurance Certificate: Required if the Incoterm places insurance responsibility on the seller (e.g., CIF).
Pro tip: Always engage a licensed Customs House Agent (CHA) for your first few shipments. Their fee is modest, and they will save you from costly errors on the shipping bill.
Step 5 — Choose the Right Shipping Method
The choice between air freight and sea freight depends on your shipment volume, urgency, and the buyer’s preference.
Air Freight
- Best for: Small to medium shipments (under 100 kg), urgent orders, first trial orders
- Transit time: 3–7 days to most major destinations
- Cost: Higher per kg, but lower insurance risk and faster payment cycles
- Key airports: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai), Indira Gandhi International (Delhi)
Sea Freight
- Best for: Large bulk orders (FCL or LCL containers), cost-sensitive shipments
- Transit time: 10–35 days depending on destination
- Cost: Significantly lower per unit for large volumes
- Key ports: Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Mumbai Port
For most wholesale imitation jewellery export from India, a combination works best — air freight for samples and urgent replenishment orders, sea freight for large seasonal orders. You can learn more about how we handle logistics on our Shipping & Delivery page.
Step 6 — Pack Your Jewellery for International Shipment
Packaging for export is not the same as retail packaging. Your goal is to ensure zero damage in transit while maintaining presentation quality when the buyer opens the carton.
Best Practices for Export Packaging
- Individual piece protection: Wrap each piece in anti-tarnish tissue or place in a zip-lock anti-tarnish pouch. For delicate items like necklace sets or maang tikkas, use padded jewellery boxes with foam inserts.
- Inner carton: Group pieces by SKU in labelled inner boxes. Include a packing slip inside each inner box.
- Master carton: Use double-walled corrugated boxes. Fill voids with bubble wrap or foam peanuts. For sea freight, consider moisture-resistant lining.
- Outer labelling: Each master carton must show: Exporter name and address, Buyer name and address, HS Code, Country of Origin (MADE IN INDIA), Gross weight, Net weight, Carton number (e.g., 1 of 12).
Related Posts
- https://www.manekratna.com/
- https://www.manekratna.com/jewellery-collection/
- https://www.manekratna.com/designer-jewellery.html
- https://www.manekratna.com/contact
- https://www.manekratna.com/shipping-delivery
- https://www.manekratna.com/why-manek-ratna