Import duty on portable steel bridges and bridge sections from Dubai (UAE) to India
HS 73081010 · Dubai / UAE → India · STRUCTURES
Data last updated: · MFN duty & IGST verified against ICEGATE (Indian Customs EDI). CEPA preferential rate per the India–UAE CEPA schedule. Verify your exact HS line before filing.
Duty breakdown on a ₹10,00,000 shipment
Enter your own value to recalculate the table below.
| Component | Standard (MFN) | CEPA |
|---|---|---|
| Basic customs duty | ₹1,50,000 | ₹0 |
| Social Welfare Surcharge | ₹15,000 | ₹0 |
| IGST | ₹2,09,700 | ₹1,80,000 |
| Total duty | ₹3,74,700 | ₹1,80,000 |
CEPA duty saving on this example: ₹1,94,700 . Run your own numbers in the import-duty estimator. New to BCD, SWS and IGST? See the glossary.
What drives the rate
Importing portable steel bridges and bridge sections (HS 73081010) from the UAE to India attracts a 15% MFN basic customs duty, and the India–UAE CEPA preferential rate is 0%. Portable and modular steel bridges serve defence, disaster response, rural connectivity and temporary works, typically procured in projects rather than continuously. CEPA removes the 15% basic duty, material on heavy fabricated structures. The 40% value-content rule applies to the fabrication, so where the sections were welded and finished decides qualification. Note that this is an HS-2022 code with no direct line in Annex 2A, which is written in HS-2017, so the preferential position should be confirmed against the implementing customs notification rather than read off the agreement. The Steel Quality Control Orders apply regardless: BIS certification of the producing mill is required and an uncertified mill's goods are refused clearance. Project procurement runs on tender timelines, which makes all of this something to settle at bid stage rather than at clearance, and the fabrication origin evidence belongs in the tender file alongside the technical submission. The preference is worth 16.5% of assessable value on every consignment — the 15-point basic-duty gap plus the 10% Social Welfare Surcharge that rides on it — so it scales with shipment size rather than with effort, and the Certificate of Origin costs the same either way. Social Welfare Surcharge adds 10% on the basic duty, not on the goods, and IGST of 18% then applies to the CIF + BCD + SWS total — IGST is recoverable as input tax credit, so the durable benefit is the basic duty alone. Confirm the live rate on ICEGATE before filing; ₹10,00,000 is only the worked example above.
Import compliance & clearances
Beyond duty, importing portable steel bridges and bridge sections (HS 73081010) into India requires the following regulatory clearances. The CEPA preferential rate does not waive any of these — they apply regardless of origin.
- DGFT Valid IEC (Importer-Exporter Code) required; ITC(HS) import policy: Free source ↗
- BIS Steel and steel products fall under the Steel Quality Control Orders — BIS certification of the producing mill is required, and consignments from an uncertified mill are refused clearance. source ↗
Indicative and non-exhaustive — verify the current DGFT / BIS / FSSAI / CDSCO notification for your exact 8-digit HS line before importing. Not customs or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the import duty on portable steel bridges and bridge sections from the UAE to India?
- The standard MFN basic customs duty is 15%; under India–UAE CEPA the preferential rate is 0%. SWS adds 10% on the basic duty and 18% IGST applies on the CIF + BCD + SWS base.
- How much can CEPA save on portable steel bridges and bridge sections?
- On a CIF value of ₹10,00,000, total duty falls from ₹3,74,700 (MFN) to ₹1,80,000 (CEPA) — about ₹1,94,700 saved per shipment, scaling with consignment value.
- What do I need to claim the CEPA rate on portable steel bridges and bridge sections?
- A valid preferential Certificate of Origin (eCoO 2.0) proving UAE origin under the Rules of Origin. Without it, customs charges the 15% MFN rate.