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Consumer goods

Import handbags and luggage

15% BCD, 10% SWS and 18% IGST (5% for cotton and jute shopping bags and handbags).

Free to importHS 4202
Basic customs duty
15%
15%
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD
IGST
5–18%
18% (most); 5% (handbags and shopping bags of cotton or jute)
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 504 mn
from 44 countries

The CBIC tariff shows 15% on every line of 4202 — travel goods, handbags, wallets, jewellery boxes and other cases, whether of leather, plastics or textiles. Budget 2025–26 and Budget 2026–27 made no change to chapter 42. IGST is 18% for heading 4202 (Schedule II, Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)); handbags and shopping bags of cotton (4202 22 20) and jute (4202 22 30) are in Schedule I at 5%. CBIC — Customs Tariff, import tariff by chapter ↗

What is imported

Suitcases, trolley bags, backpacks, fashion handbags and wallets are imported by luggage brands, fashion labels, retailers and online sellers. TradeStat shows about US$ 504 million of 4202 imports in 2025–26. China supplies more than half, followed by Bangladesh, Singapore, Italy, France and Hong Kong. Luxury leather goods come mainly from Italy and France; volume luggage and backpacks from China.

Import policy · Free to import

Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 1. Bags made from wildlife or CITES-listed skins are a separate matter and need wildlife permits.

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 ↗
  • 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 ↗
  • Wildlife Crime Control Bureau / CITES (exotic skins only)Bags of crocodile, python, ostrich or other CITES-listed skins need CITES documents from the exporting country and clearance at the port; some species cannot be imported at all.wccb.gov.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Outer material (leather, plastic, textile, cotton or jute), which decides the 8-digit line and the IGST rate.
  • Brand and trademark checks on designer bags.
  • Legal Metrology declarations on each retail piece.

Practical tips

  • Test trolley wheels, zips and handles on samples before the bulk order — these fail first.
  • Nest smaller suitcases inside larger ones to cut freight volume.
  • For bags from Bangladesh, check the SAFTA preferential rate and rules of origin.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Declaring a synthetic-leather bag as cotton or jute to claim 5% IGST.
  • Importing bags that copy luxury logos; customs can seize them on the brand owner's complaint.
Sources (8)
  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. Department of Consumer Affairs — Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities)
  6. CPCB — EPR portal for plastic packaging
  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 handbags and luggage

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

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 504 mn
Change from 2024-25
+5.3%
Supplying countries
44
Biggest supplier
China
59%
China: US$ 299 mnBangladesh: US$ 64.7 mnSingapore: US$ 25.3 mnItaly: US$ 25.2 mnFrance: US$ 17 mnHong Kong: US$ 14.2 mnMyanmar: US$ 8.3 mnNetherlands: US$ 7.2 mnSpain: US$ 6.2 mnVietnam: US$ 5.8 mnUnited States of America: US$ 5.3 mnCambodia: US$ 5.1 mnIndonesia: US$ 4.9 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 4.3 mnGermany: US$ 2.9 mnChina: US$ 299 mnChinaBangladesh: US$ 64.7 mnBangladeshSingapore: US$ 25.3 mnSingaporeItaly: US$ 25.2 mnItalyFrance: US$ 17 mnFranceHong Kong: US$ 14.2 mnMyanmar: US$ 8.3 mnMyanmarNetherlands: US$ 7.2 mnSpain: US$ 6.2 mnVietnam: US$ 5.8 mnUnited States of America: US$ 5.3 mnCambodia: US$ 5.1 mnIndonesia: US$ 4.9 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 4.3 mnGermany: US$ 2.9 mnIndia
Where India imports handbags and luggage from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 156 mn1562020-212021-22: US$ 318 mn3182021-222022-23: US$ 452 mn4522022-232023-24: US$ 481 mn4812023-242024-25: US$ 479 mn4792024-252025-26: US$ 504 mn5042025-26
India’s handbags and luggage imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1ChinaUS$ 299 mn+8.3%
2BangladeshUS$ 64.7 mn-1.8%
3SingaporeUS$ 25.3 mn-14.9%
4ItalyUS$ 25.2 mn+17.5%
5FranceUS$ 17 mn-5.9%
6Hong KongUS$ 14.2 mn-17.3%
7MyanmarUS$ 8.3 mn+82.2%
8NetherlandsUS$ 7.2 mn+49.3%
9SpainUS$ 6.2 mn+5.7%
10VietnamUS$ 5.8 mn+30%
11United States of AmericaUS$ 5.3 mn-7.7%
12CambodiaUS$ 5.1 mn+16.4%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. MyanmarUS$ 4.6 mn → US$ 8.3 mn+82.2%
  2. NetherlandsUS$ 4.8 mn → US$ 7.2 mn+49.3%
  3. VietnamUS$ 4.5 mn → US$ 5.8 mn+30%
  4. ItalyUS$ 21.4 mn → US$ 25.2 mn+17.5%
  5. CambodiaUS$ 4.4 mn → US$ 5.1 mn+16.4%

Shrinking sources

  1. Hong KongUS$ 17.1 mn → US$ 14.2 mn-17.3%
  2. SingaporeUS$ 29.7 mn → US$ 25.3 mn-14.9%
  3. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 5.1 mn → US$ 4.3 mn-14.6%

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
Others-of-handbags with outer surface of sheeting of plastic/of tex...4202 22 90US$ 107 mn+21.2%223 mn piecesUS$ 0.48 per piece
Others-of-trunks suit cases etc. and smlr contnr with outer surface o...4202 12 90US$ 92.2 mn-3.6%23.8 mn piecesUS$ 3.87 per piece
Other travel-goods of plastic/textile materials4202 12 50US$ 50.6 mn+4.6%6.8 mn piecesUS$ 7.45 per piece
Hnd bgs/shppng bgs of artfcl plstc mtrl4202 22 10US$ 46.3 mn-11.6%11.7 mn piecesUS$ 3.96 per piece
Other articles with outer surface of plastic sheeting or of tx...4202 92 00US$ 38.4 mn+7.4%10.0 mn piecesUS$ 3.84 per piece
Cases and containers, handbags, with outer surface of leather or of composition leather — other leather hand bags.4202 21 90US$ 29.9 mn+6.7%321k piecesUS$ 93.15 per piece
Others-of-articles with outer srfce of sheeting of plastics/txtl mtrl ...4202 32 90US$ 27.5 mn+19.1%44.6 mn piecesUS$ 0.62 per piece
Other similar containers of hdng 42024202 99 00US$ 27.2 mn-1.8%46.4 mn piecesUS$ 0.59 per piece
Cases and containers, trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and… — plastic moulded suitcases4202 12 20US$ 25.5 mn-14%1.1 mn piecesUS$ 24.26 per piece
Others-of-other handbags including those without handle4202 29 90US$ 11.2 mn+35.1%19.4 mn piecesUS$ 0.57 per piece
Vanity bags with outer surface of sheetingof plastic/textile4202 22 40US$ 7.9 mn+3,317.4%975k piecesUS$ 8.06 per piece
Hnbgs of other mtrls excluding wkrwrk/bskt wrk4202 29 10US$ 6.8 mn-22.8%17.6 mn piecesUS$ 0.39 per piece

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

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