Export to Bhutan

Bhutan buys most of its imports from India — fuel, rice, food, vehicles, machinery, building materials and consumer goods. There is no customs duty and payment is in rupees, so it is a simple market for small exporters in the North-East and North Bengal. Goods mostly cross by road at Jaigaon–Phuentsholing.

What it buys from India

• Petroleum products and electricity-sector equipment
• Rice, food and processed food
• Vehicles, machinery and building materials
• Medicines and consumer goods

Import rules on their side

• Food, plants and animal products are checked at the border by the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (formerly BAFRA).
• Bhutan does not charge basic customs duty on Indian goods, but sales tax and other domestic levies may apply; the importer handles these.
• Bhutan sometimes restricts imports of certain goods (for example vehicles) to manage its foreign-currency position; check with the buyer.

Practical tips

• Still file a shipping bill and get paid through a bank so your export counts and you can claim export benefits.
• Government agencies and hydropower projects are big buyers; watch Bhutanese government tenders.
• Mountain roads close during heavy monsoon rain; build in extra transit time from June to September.