Import duty on steel lattice masts from Dubai (UAE) to India
HS 73082020 · 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 steel lattice masts (HS 73082020) from the UAE to India attracts a 15% MFN basic customs duty, and the India–UAE CEPA preferential rate is 0%. Lattice masts carry telecom antennas, lighting and instrumentation, with demand tied to India's telecom densification and infrastructure build. The 15%-to-zero CEPA cut is significant on fabricated tonnage. Qualification under the 40% value-content rule depends on where the sections were rolled and the mast fabricated and galvanised — three operations that can sit in three countries, which is why the claim needs the fabricator's own cost breakdown rather than an assurance. Steel trade remedies run parallel to CEPA and are not waived by it, and the Steel Quality Control Orders require BIS certification of the producing mill before a consignment can be cleared. Telecom buyers separately specify wind-load and galvanising standards that the fabricator must certify, and those certificates name the fabricating plant. Keep the galvanising and fabrication certificates with the origin declaration for each consignment, since they are the evidence behind the claim rather than a parallel set of paperwork. India's schedule (Annex 2A, modality TEI) took this line to zero in the agreement's first year, 2022, so the preference is fully phased in and nothing further changes. 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 steel lattice masts (HS 73082020) 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 steel lattice masts 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 steel lattice masts?
- 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 steel lattice masts?
- 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.