UK–INDIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT · IN FORCE 15 JULY 2026

Importing from India, now with the tariffs down.

The UK–India Free Trade Agreement has come into force, easing the way for goods moving from India into the UK. Bluestone International handles the sea freight, the UK customs clearance and the HS classification — so you can bring in Indian-made goods without hiring a customs department of your own.

India to the UK, door to door

One consignment, one point of contact. We take it from India's principal container ports through to delivery anywhere in the UK.

Shipping lane diagram from India to the UK A route line running from Nhava Sheva, Mundra and Chennai in India through the Suez Canal to a UK port, then on to nationwide delivery, with approximate transit times marked. NHAVA SHEVA MUMBAI · ORIGIN MUNDRA / CHENNAI ALTERNATE LOAD PORTS SUEZ CANAL TRANSIT POINT FELIXSTOWE UK ENTRY PORT UK-WIDE DELIVERY DESTINATION
TYPICAL FCL TRANSIT, WEST INDIA → UK DEEP-SEA PORT: ~18–24 DAYS · SUBJECT TO CARRIER SCHEDULE

What changes on 15 July 2026

UK–India trade already runs to more than £40 billion a year. The new agreement gives most eligible Indian goods preferential access into the UK, with tariffs reduced or removed across many categories — for importers, that generally means lower landed costs and fewer surprises at the border.

The saving only lands if the paperwork is right. Getting the HS classification and origin documentation correct from the first shipment is what determines whether you actually see the tariff reduction, or lose it to a customs query.

Sectors set to benefit
Textiles Footwear Engineering goods Automotive components Chemicals Food & drink Consumer goods Medical devices Cosmetics Vehicles
Still outside the concessions
Dairy Cheese Apples Edible oils Oats

Everything between their factory and your warehouse

One broker for the whole move — sea freight, UK customs, and the documents in between.

01

Sea freight, FCL & LCL

Full and part-container loads from Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Chennai and Kolkata, booked against reliable carrier schedules.

02

UK customs clearance & CDS

UK-side clearance handled in-house, including full CDS declarations — no third-party broker in the middle.

03

HS classification & duty planning

Correct tariff codes matched against the new FTA schedule, so you claim the preferential rate you're actually entitled to.

04

Import documentation

Commercial invoices, certificates of origin, packing lists and import declarations prepared to clear cleanly first time.

05

UK-wide delivery

Onward delivery arranged to anywhere in the UK once your consignment clears — no unnecessary handling in between.

06

High-value & specialist cargo

Experience moving fine art, antiques and other high-value goods — the same care applied to textiles, jewellery and specialist India-origin cargo.

A broker, not a call centre

One person, start to finish

Your account is handled directly — the person who quotes your shipment is the person who clears it.

Nationwide delivery network

Onward delivery arranged anywhere in the UK once your consignment clears customs.

Genuine customs depth

Day-to-day work in ADR dangerous goods, transit documents and fine-art classification means India's tariff schedule is well within scope.

No hidden hand-offs

Freight and customs sit under one roof, so nothing gets lost between a forwarder and a separate broker.

Common questions on importing from India

What does the UK-India Free Trade Agreement change for importers?

From 15 July 2026, most eligible Indian goods gain preferential access into the UK, with tariffs reduced or removed across many categories. Landed costs come down, provided the goods are correctly classified. Some sensitive agricultural goods — dairy, cheese, apples, edible oils and oats — remain outside the concessions.

How long does sea freight take from India to the UK?

A typical FCL shipment from west India — Nhava Sheva or Mundra — to a UK deep-sea port takes roughly 18 to 24 days, depending on carrier schedules and routing via the Suez Canal.

Who handles UK customs clearance for goods imported from India?

Bluestone handles the sea freight booking and UK-side customs clearance in-house — including CDS declarations, HS classification and import documentation — under one point of contact.

Which sectors benefit most from importing from India under the new deal?

Textiles, footwear, engineering goods, automotive components, chemicals, food and drink, consumer goods, medical devices, cosmetics and vehicles are among the sectors expected to see the biggest tariff reductions.