India imposes curbs on Jute imports from Bangladesh

Ira Singh
Khabar Khabaron Ki,29 June’25

India has imposed immediate restrictions on the import of jute and allied fibre products from Bangladesh, limiting such shipments to a single entry point—Nhava Sheva seaport in Maharashtra. The decision, notified by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Commerce Ministry on Friday, comes amid rising trade concerns and growing pressure from India’s domestic jute sector.

Although jute imports from Bangladesh currently enjoy duty-free access under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), authorities have flagged longstanding issues of market distortion caused by heavily subsidised and allegedly dumped products. Indian manufacturers have raised repeated concerns over the influx of low-cost jute yarn, fibre, and bags, which has severely impacted domestic producers and rural livelihoods tied to the jute economy.

Investigations by the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) had earlier led to the imposition of anti-dumping duties on Bangladeshi jute products, according to information. However, those measures failed to significantly curb imports due to various circumvention techniques such as mislabelling, exploiting technical exemptions, and using ADD-exempted firms. The new restrictions aim to address these gaps by tightening entry controls and improving traceability.