Food and farm goods

Import dried figs and apricots

30% tariff duty, FSSAI and plant quarantine. Afghanistan supplies most of India’s dried figs and apricots.

Free to importHS 0804.20 / 0813.10

Basic customs duty: 30%
Social welfare surcharge: 10% of BCD
IGST: 5%
India’s imports, 2025-26: US$ 249 mn

The tariff rate for figs (0804 20 10 fresh, 0804 20 90 other) and dried apricots (0813 10 00) is 30% (Customs Tariff as on 30.06.2025); notification 45/2025-Customs has no lower general rate for them. Afghanistan-origin goods can claim a preferential rate under SAFTA with a valid certificate of origin, which is why it dominates supply — check the rate for your origin on ICEGATE. IGST is 5% on dried figs (Schedule I entry for 0804) and on dried fruit of 0813 (notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)). CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (as on 30.06.2025) ↗

What is imported

Dried figs (anjeer) and dried apricots (khubani) are sold loose and in retail packs, especially in the festive and winter season. In FY 2025-26 imports under 0804 20 were about US$ 233 million, 85% from Afghanistan and 15% from the UAE; dried apricots were about US$ 16 million, again mostly from Afghanistan (TradeStat). Most goods move by air or overland to Delhi and Amritsar, and by sea through the Gulf.

Import policy · Free to import

Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 1, subject to FSSAI import clearance and plant quarantine release.

Licences and registrations you need

FSSAICentral licence for food importers (FoSCoS), then a No Objection Certificate for each consignment through FICS at the port.fics.fssai.gov.in ↗
Plant Quarantine (PPQS)Import permit where the Plant Quarantine Order, 2003 requires one, plus inspection and release at the port. Apply on PQMS before shipment.pqms.cgg.gov.in ↗
Legal Metrology (Consumer Affairs)Importer registration under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules if you import or sell retail packs.consumeraffairs.nic.in ↗

What is checked at the port

FSSAI tests for aflatoxin and ochratoxin, moisture, insect damage and added sulphur dioxide in apricots.
Plant quarantine inspection against the phytosanitary certificate.
Certificate of origin when a SAFTA preferential rate is claimed.

Practical tips

Agree the grade (size, colour, softness) with photos of the actual lot, not a catalogue picture.
Check that the supplier can issue a proper SAFTA certificate of origin before you price on the preferential rate.

Where new importers go wrong

Pricing on the SAFTA rate and then paying the full 30% because the certificate of origin is rejected.
Insect-infested or mouldy lots that fail at the port, especially after long, hot transit.

Sources (7)

Import data

Where India buys dried figs and apricots

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

Imports, 2025-26: US$ 249 mn
Change from 2024-25: +45%
Supplying countries: 7
Biggest supplier: Afghanistan

Where India imports dried figs and apricots from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26

India’s dried figs and apricots imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change

1AfghanistanUS$ 209 mn+23.4%

2United Arab EmiratesUS$ 38 mn+17,995.2%

3IranUS$ 900k+373.7%

4TürkiyeUS$ 880k-55.3%

5UzbekistanUS$ 200k—

6Saudi ArabiaUS$ 180k—

7FranceUS$ 60k—

8Pakistan Ir——

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

United Arab EmiratesUS$ 210k → US$ 38 mn+17,995.2%
AfghanistanUS$ 169 mn → US$ 209 mn+23.4%

Shrinking sources

None

Which forms come in, and at what price

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

Tariff line	Value 2025-26	Change	Quantity	Average price
Other figs excludingdng frsh`0804 20 90`	US$ 233 mn	+49.3%	41,736 tonnes	US$ 5.58 per kg
Fruit, edible, apricots, dried — apricots, dried`0813 10 00`	US$ 16.1 mn	+2.6%	6,489 tonnes	US$ 2.48 per kg
Fruit, edible, figs, fresh or dried — figs fresh`0804 20 10`	US$ 10k	—	2.0 tonnes	US$ 5.00 per kg