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Consumer goods

Import spectacles, frames and sunglasses

Frames 10% BCD and 5% IGST; sunglasses 20% BCD and 18% IGST; corrective spectacles 10% BCD and 5% IGST.

Free to importHS 9004
Basic customs duty
10–20%
10% (frames, corrective and other spectacles); 20% (sunglasses)
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD
IGST
5–18%
5% (frames, corrective spectacles); 18% (sunglasses, non-corrective goggles)
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 268 mn
from 40 countries

The CBIC tariff shows 10% on frames of plastics or other materials and their parts (9003), 20% on sunglasses (9004 10 00) and 10% on other spectacles and goggles (9004 90). Chapter 90 lines for eyewear were not changed in Budget 2025–26 or 2026–27. IGST: frames and mountings (9003) and corrective spectacles (9004) are in Schedule I at 5%; sunglasses and goggles other than corrective are in Schedule II at 18% (Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)). CBIC — Customs Tariff, import tariff by chapter ↗

What is imported

Spectacle frames, sunglasses, reading glasses and sports goggles are imported by optical chains, eyewear brands, distributors and online sellers. In 2025–26 India imported about US$ 147 million under 9003 and US$ 121 million under 9004 (TradeStat), mostly from China and Hong Kong, with Italy as the main source of premium brands. Frames are often imported in bulk and fitted with lenses in India.

Import policy · Free to import

Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 1.

Licences and registrations you need

  • Legal Metrology (LMPC)Importers of pre-packed goods for retail sale must register under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 and print the importer's name and address, MRP, net quantity, month and year of import and consumer-care details on each pack.consumeraffairs.nic.in ↗
  • CDSCO (only if you also import lenses)Frames and sunglasses need no CDSCO licence. If you import contact lenses or other lens products along with frames, check the CDSCO medical device classification first, because those items can need an import licence.cdscoonline.gov.in ↗
  • CPCB (EPR — plastic packaging)An importer who brings in goods packed in plastic is treated as an importer under the Plastic Waste Management Rules and must register on the CPCB EPR portal and meet recycling targets.eprplastic.cpcb.gov.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Correct split between sunglasses (20% BCD, 18% IGST) and frames or corrective spectacles.
  • Brand authenticity — counterfeit designer sunglasses are a frequent seizure.
  • Legal Metrology labels for retail-packed eyewear.

Practical tips

  • Ask for UV-protection test reports for sunglasses; Indian retailers and buyers increasingly ask for them.
  • Buy frames with a sample approval for hinge quality and plating before the bulk order.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Declaring sunglasses as frames or corrective spectacles to pay lower duty and IGST.
  • Importing look-alike designer frames that copy registered trademarks.
Sources (9)
  1. CBIC — Customs Tariff, import tariff by chapter
  2. Ministry of Finance (TRU) — explanatory letter on Budget 2025–26 customs changes
  3. Ministry of Finance (TRU) — explanatory letter on Budget 2026–27 customs changes
  4. CBIC — Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate) dated 17.09.2025
  5. CDSCO — SUGAM portal (cosmetics import registration, medical devices)
  6. Department of Consumer Affairs — Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities)
  7. CPCB — EPR portal for plastic packaging
  8. Department of Commerce — TradeStat (India's import data by commodity and country)
  9. ICEGATE — Customs e-filing portal (tariff and duty lookup)

Import data

Where India buys spectacles, frames and sunglasses

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

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 268 mn
Change from 2024-25
+6.2%
Supplying countries
40
Biggest supplier
China
50%
China: US$ 135 mnHong Kong: US$ 72.4 mnItaly: US$ 27.8 mnVietnam: US$ 5.5 mnUnited States of America: US$ 4.4 mnGermany: US$ 3.3 mnTaiwan: US$ 3.2 mnAustria: US$ 2 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 1.9 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 1.7 mnSingapore: US$ 1.5 mnJapan: US$ 1.3 mnFrance: US$ 1.2 mnSwitzerland: US$ 1.1 mnDenmark: US$ 890kChina: US$ 135 mnChinaHong Kong: US$ 72.4 mnHong KongItaly: US$ 27.8 mnItalyVietnam: US$ 5.5 mnVietnamUnited States of America: US$ 4.4 mnUnited States of AmericaGermany: US$ 3.3 mnGermanyTaiwan: US$ 3.2 mnAustria: US$ 2 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 1.9 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 1.7 mnSingapore: US$ 1.5 mnJapan: US$ 1.3 mnFrance: US$ 1.2 mnSwitzerland: US$ 1.1 mnDenmark: US$ 890kIndia
Where India imports spectacles, frames and sunglasses from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 128 mn1282020-212021-22: US$ 148 mn1482021-222022-23: US$ 232 mn2322022-232023-24: US$ 316 mn3162023-242024-25: US$ 252 mn2522024-252025-26: US$ 268 mn2682025-26
India’s spectacles, frames and sunglasses imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1ChinaUS$ 135 mn-3.8%
2Hong KongUS$ 72.4 mn+28.6%
3ItalyUS$ 27.8 mn+12.2%
4VietnamUS$ 5.5 mn+282.6%
5United States of AmericaUS$ 4.4 mn+25.4%
6GermanyUS$ 3.3 mn+16.5%
7TaiwanUS$ 3.2 mn-2.4%
8AustriaUS$ 2 mn+19.5%
9United Arab EmiratesUS$ 1.9 mn-22.8%
10United KingdomUS$ 1.7 mn-31.3%
11SingaporeUS$ 1.5 mn-13.9%
12JapanUS$ 1.3 mn+8.5%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. VietnamUS$ 1.4 mn → US$ 5.5 mn+282.6%
  2. Hong KongUS$ 56.3 mn → US$ 72.4 mn+28.6%
  3. United States of AmericaUS$ 3.5 mn → US$ 4.4 mn+25.4%
  4. GermanyUS$ 2.8 mn → US$ 3.3 mn+16.5%
  5. ItalyUS$ 24.7 mn → US$ 27.8 mn+12.2%

Shrinking sources

  1. CanadaUS$ 3.2 mn → US$ 750k-76.3%

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
Sunglasses, corrective, protective or other — sunglasses9004 10 00US$ 104 mn+5.7%176 mn piecesUS$ 0.59 per piece
Frames and mountings of other materials9003 19 00US$ 80.6 mn+9.2%79.0 mn piecesUS$ 1.02 per piece
Frames and mountings of plastics9003 11 00US$ 56.9 mn-0.9%37.6 mn piecesUS$ 1.51 per piece
Spectacles, goggles and the like, corrective, protective or other — 0thers9004 90 90US$ 14.8 mn+15.8%21.3 mn piecesUS$ 0.70 per piece
Parts of spectacles,goggles etc.9003 90 00US$ 9.4 mn+46.1%891 tonnesUS$ 10.59 per kg
Prismatic eyeglasses for reading9004 90 20US$ 1.6 mn-31.7%9.1 mn piecesUS$ 0.18 per piece
Passive night vissi0n g0ggles9004 90 10US$ 90k-83.6%18k piecesUS$ 5.02 per piece

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

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