Import duty on lead-acid accumulators for starting piston engines (automotive batteries) from Dubai (UAE) to India
HS 85071000 · Dubai / UAE → India · ELECTRIC ACCUMULATORS
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 lead-acid accumulators for starting piston engines (automotive batteries) (HS 85071000) from the UAE to India attracts a 15% MFN basic customs duty, and the India–UAE CEPA preferential rate is 0%. Automotive starter batteries are a high-volume aftermarket line, and the India-UAE trade in them is substantial. The CEPA cut is a strong landed-cost lever for distributors. Origin is the constraint: lead-acid batteries built from imported lead and separators must still show 40% UAE value content, and pure assembly rarely clears that bar because the lead itself is most of the cost. Beyond tariff, batteries face BIS certification under both the quality-control order and the Compulsory Registration Order, plus hazardous-goods handling rules that gate import independently. Reconcile the value-content claim with the manufacturer's data before pricing, and file the Certificate of Origin — without it customs applies the full MFN duty, and on a container of batteries that is a margin-erasing correction rather than a rounding error. 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 lead-acid accumulators for starting piston engines (automotive batteries) (HS 85071000) 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 Mandatory BIS certification before clearance under the applicable Quality Control Order — the overseas manufacturer must hold a licence under the BIS Conformity Assessment Scheme and mark the goods accordingly. source ↗
- BIS Most electrical goods are notified under the Compulsory Registration Order — the manufacturer must be registered with BIS and the product marked before it can be imported. 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 lead-acid accumulators for starting piston engines (automotive batteries) 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 lead-acid accumulators for starting piston engines (automotive batteries)?
- 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 lead-acid accumulators for starting piston engines (automotive batteries)?
- 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.