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Machinery and parts

Import air compressors

Industrial air compressors pay 7.5% BCD (effective), refrigeration compressors 15%; 10% SWS and 18% IGST on both.

Free to importHS 841480
Basic customs duty
7.5–15%
7.5% (8414 80, effective); 15% (8414 30 and 8414 80 11)
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD
IGST
18%
18%
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 1.64 bn
from 48 countries

The CBIC tariff shows 15% on 8414 30 00 (refrigeration compressors) and on all lines of 8414 80. S.No. 254 of Notification 45/2025-Customs lowers the rate to 7.5% for 8414 80 (except 8414 80 11, compressors for air-conditioning equipment), unless the compressor is for motor vehicles of 8702, 8703, 8704 or motorcycles of 8711. IGST is 18% for all compressors (Schedule II entry for 8414, Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)); air-conditioning compressors moved down from 28% on 22 September 2025. CBIC — Notification 45/2025-Customs dated 24.10.2025 (effective BCD rates) ↗

What is imported

Screw and piston air compressors are imported by factories, workshops and distributors; hermetic and scroll compressors for refrigerators, cold rooms and air conditioners are imported by appliance and cooling-system makers. In 2025–26 India imported about US$ 1,231 million under 8414 80 and US$ 410 million under 8414 30 (TradeStat). China supplies roughly half, followed by Germany, Thailand, Japan, Belgium and the USA.

Import policy · Free to import

Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 1. Compressors that come charged with refrigerant gas must also follow the ozone-depleting substances rules.

Licences and registrations you need

  • BIS (hermetic compressors — QCO)Hermetic compressors for air conditioners and refrigeration fall under the Air Conditioner and its Related Parts, Hermetic Compressor and Temperature Sensing Controls (Quality Control) Order, 2019 (IS 10617). The order has been amended several times for capacity bands, so confirm on the BIS list whether your model needs a BIS licence on the day of import.bis.gov.in ↗
  • BIS (industrial air compressors)The Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024 was rescinded by the Ministry of Heavy Industries in January 2026 (S.O. 239(E)), so there is no general BIS certificate for machinery at present. Check the BIS list for any product-specific order before you ship.bis.gov.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Correct split between 8414 30 (refrigeration), 8414 80 11 (air-conditioning) and other 8414 80 lines, because the duty differs.
  • BIS licence number and mark on hermetic compressors covered by the QCO.
  • Refrigerant type declared on units shipped pre-charged.

Practical tips

  • Ask for the free air delivery (FAD) test report at your working pressure, not just the catalogue figure.
  • Check motor voltage, frequency and starter type for Indian power supply before you order.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Declaring an air-conditioning compressor under a general 8414 80 line to get 7.5%; the 8414 80 11 line is excluded from that concession.
  • Importing hermetic compressors without checking the current QCO capacity band, and having the shipment held at the port.
Sources (8)
  1. CBIC — Customs Tariff, import tariff by chapter
  2. CBIC — Notification 45/2025-Customs dated 24.10.2025 (effective BCD rates)
  3. CBIC — Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate) dated 17.09.2025
  4. GST Council — 56th meeting press release (rates from 22.09.2025)
  5. Ministry of Finance (TRU) — explanatory letter on Budget 2026–27 customs changes
  6. Bureau of Indian Standards — products under compulsory certification
  7. Department of Commerce — TradeStat (India's import data by commodity and country)
  8. ICEGATE — Customs e-filing portal (tariff and duty lookup)

Import data

Where India buys air compressors

India’s imports from the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, financial years.

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 1.64 bn
Change from 2024-25
+17.1%
Supplying countries
48
Biggest supplier
China
51%
China: US$ 845 mnThailand: US$ 119 mnGermany: US$ 117 mnJapan: US$ 93.8 mnBelgium: US$ 89.4 mnUnited States of America: US$ 83.1 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 58.3 mnSouth Korea: US$ 52.1 mnNetherlands: US$ 34.4 mnItaly: US$ 29.1 mnSingapore: US$ 17.7 mnHong Kong: US$ 17.3 mnTaiwan: US$ 13.7 mnFrance: US$ 12.3 mnBrazil: US$ 7.9 mnChina: US$ 845 mnChinaThailand: US$ 119 mnThailandGermany: US$ 117 mnGermanyJapan: US$ 93.8 mnBelgium: US$ 89.4 mnUnited States of America: US$ 83.1 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Kingdom: US$ 58.3 mnSouth Korea: US$ 52.1 mnNetherlands: US$ 34.4 mnItaly: US$ 29.1 mnItalySingapore: US$ 17.7 mnSingaporeHong Kong: US$ 17.3 mnTaiwan: US$ 13.7 mnFrance: US$ 12.3 mnBrazil: US$ 7.9 mnIndia
Where India imports air compressors from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 750 mn7502020-212021-22: US$ 1.04 bn1.0k2021-222022-23: US$ 1.2 bn1.2k2022-232023-24: US$ 1.21 bn1.2k2023-242024-25: US$ 1.4 bn1.4k2024-252025-26: US$ 1.64 bn1.6k2025-26
India’s air compressors imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1ChinaUS$ 845 mn+3.9%
2ThailandUS$ 119 mn+14.9%
3GermanyUS$ 117 mn+1.5%
4JapanUS$ 93.8 mn+156.1%
5BelgiumUS$ 89.4 mn+575.5%
6United States of AmericaUS$ 83.1 mn+113.3%
7United KingdomUS$ 58.3 mn+24.2%
8South KoreaUS$ 52.1 mn-13.7%
9NetherlandsUS$ 34.4 mn+360.8%
10ItalyUS$ 29.1 mn-35.2%
11SingaporeUS$ 17.7 mn-58.5%
12Hong KongUS$ 17.3 mn-7.7%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. BelgiumUS$ 13.2 mn → US$ 89.4 mn+575.5%
  2. NetherlandsUS$ 7.5 mn → US$ 34.4 mn+360.8%
  3. JapanUS$ 36.6 mn → US$ 93.8 mn+156.1%
  4. United States of AmericaUS$ 39 mn → US$ 83.1 mn+113.3%
  5. United KingdomUS$ 47 mn → US$ 58.3 mn+24.2%
  6. ThailandUS$ 103 mn → US$ 119 mn+14.9%

Shrinking sources

  1. SingaporeUS$ 42.7 mn → US$ 17.7 mn-58.5%
  2. ItalyUS$ 45 mn → US$ 29.1 mn-35.2%
  3. South KoreaUS$ 60.4 mn → US$ 52.1 mn-13.7%

Which forms come in, and at what price

Imports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Gas compressors of a kind used in air-conditioning8414 80 11US$ 674 mn+9.8%13.9 mn piecesUS$ 48.39 per piece
Compressors usd in reprigerating equipment8414 30 00US$ 410 mn+2.7%16.1 mn piecesUS$ 25.55 per piece
Others-of-other pumps,compressors etc.8414 80 90US$ 298 mn+29.6%4.2 mn piecesUS$ 71.42 per piece
Pumps and compressors, for air, vacuum or gas in heading no. 8414 — other gas compressors8414 80 19US$ 166 mn+149.2%129k piecesUS$ 1288.49 per piece
Pumps and compressors, for air, vacuum or gas in heading no. 8414 — turbo charger8414 80 30US$ 93 mn+4.1%405k piecesUS$ 229.63 per piece
Free-pstn gnrtrs for gas turbine8414 80 20US$ 390k-88%144 piecesUS$ 2708.33 per piece

Source: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

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